Senate Bill S7839

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7839

SPONSOR: RITCHIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act requiring third-party evaluations of district-
wide school safety plans

 
PURPOSE:

To require third party evaluations of school safety plans and building
level emergency response plans

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one calls upon the department of education to consult with the
division of state police to contract with a third-party evaluator to
review and assess each district-wide school safety plan and building-
level emergency response plans established under the section 2801-a of
the education law.

Section two calls for the division of state police to work in conjunc-
tion with the third-party evaluator to establish the manner in which
              

district-wide safety plans will be reviewed.

Section three provides that such reviews shall be provided for through
appropriations to the department of education.

Section four provides a one year deadline for the completion of the
safety evaluations. Section five provides the effective date.

 
EXISTING LAW:

Section 2801-a of the education law concerns the establishment of
district-wide school safety plans and building-level emergency response
plans.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

While district-wide school safety plans and building specific plans are
established under section 2801-a of the education law, this law puts a
burden on our school personnel to know and implement safety plans that
are adequate and effective. In fact the state police, in conjunction
with an outside evaluator would more appropriately be able to evaluate
the efficacy of school safety plans, freeing up educators to focus on
their primary job - educating our children.

The purpose of such evaluations would be solely to provide recommenda-
tions for improvements, and guidance as to how best to safeguard our
schools and our children.

This legislation is especially important in light of recent tragic
school shootings across the nation, and the need to ensure that the
safety plans currently in place are doing what the law intended, and
that our schools are safe for students, teachers, and visitors must be
of the highest priority.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None. This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None. Funding for third-party evaluations shall be provided through
appropriations to the department of education.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.