S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7945
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 12, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  FUNKE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating the office of
   safe schools; and making an appropriation therefor
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  The education law is amended by adding a new section 2815
 to read as follows:
   § 2815. OFFICE OF SAFE SCHOOLS. THERE IS  HEREBY  CREATED  WITHIN  THE
 DEPARTMENT  THE  OFFICE OF SAFE SCHOOLS ("THE OFFICE"). THE OFFICE SHALL
 SERVE AS A CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR BEST  PRACTICES,  TRAINING  STANDARDS,
 AND  COMPLIANCE  OVERSIGHT  IN  ALL  MATTERS REGARDING SCHOOL SAFETY AND
 SECURITY, INCLUDING PREVENTION EFFORTS, INTERVENTION EFFORTS, AND  EMER-
 GENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING. THE OFFICE SHALL:
   1. ESTABLISH AND UPDATE AS NECESSARY A SCHOOL SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT
 TOOL  FOR  USE  BY  SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE OFFICE SHALL MAKE THE SECURITY
 RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL AVAILABLE FOR USE BY CHARTER SCHOOLS;
   2. PROVIDE ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT  OPPORTUNITIES  TO  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT PERSONNEL;
   3.  PROVIDE  A COORDINATED AND INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO PROVIDING
 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE TO  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  ON  SAFETY  AND
 SECURITY AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS FINDINGS;
   4.  DEVELOP  AND IMPLEMENT A SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALIST TRAINING PROGRAM
 FOR SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALISTS APPOINTED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE  OFFICE
 SHALL  DEVELOP  THE  TRAINING  PROGRAM  BASED ON NATIONAL AND STATE BEST
 PRACTICES ON SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY AND MUST INCLUDE ACTIVE  SHOOTER
 TRAINING.  THE OFFICE SHALL DEVELOP TRAINING MODULES IN BOTH TRADITIONAL
 AND ONLINE FORMATS. A SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALIST CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
 SHALL BE AWARDED  TO  A  SCHOOL  SAFETY  SPECIALIST  WHO  SATISFACTORILY
 COMPLETES THE TRAINING REQUIRED BY RULES OF THE OFFICE;
   5.  REVIEW  AND  PROVIDE  RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE SECURITY RISK ASSESS-
 MENTS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY CONTRACT WITH SECURITY  PERSONNEL,  CONSULTING
 ENGINEERS,  ARCHITECTS, OR OTHER SAFETY AND SECURITY EXPERTS THE DEPART-
 MENT DEEMS NECESSARY FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY CONSULTANT SERVICES;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15094-01-8

 S. 7945                             2
 
   6. PROVIDE DATA ANALYTIC RESOURCES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT FACILITATE
 THE MONITORING OF SOCIAL MEDIA  ACTIVITIES  TO  PROVIDE  EARLY-DETECTION
 INFORMATION  OF  POSSIBLE  THREATS  TO STUDENTS' PERSONAL HEALTH AND THE
 SAFETY OF THE SCHOOL; AND
   7.  AWARD  GRANTS  TO SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY SECURITY OF SCHOOL
 BUILDINGS BASED UPON RECOMMENDATIONS SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT  DEVELOPED
 PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
   §  2. The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000), or so much thereof
 as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of  educa-
 tion  out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the
 credit of the local assistance account, not otherwise appropriated,  and
 made  immediately  available,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the
 provisions of this act.  Such moneys shall be payable on the  audit  and
 warrant  of  the  comptroller  on  vouchers certified or approved by the
 commissioner of education in the manner prescribed by law.
   § 3. This act shall take effect August 1, 2018.