Senate Bill S1958

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1958
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 17, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to establish a task force to study and  make  recommendations  on
   school safety in the state of New York
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. a. A task force is hereby established to study school safe-
 ty at schools in the state of  New  York.  For  purposes  of  this  act,
 "violence"  shall  mean any occurrence that may compel a school official
 to contact law enforcement for assistance.
   b. The task force shall:
   (i) study the frequency and seriousness of  violence  that  occurs  on
 school grounds;
   (ii) study the causes of such violence, including the influence of:
   (1) school size and environment;
   (2) home environment and abuse;
   (3) community environment;
   (4) cyber abuse;
   (5) psychological factors;
   (6) media coverage of violent acts; and
   (7) any other influences the task force deems relevant;
   (iii)  study  current  measures implemented by schools in the state of
 New York to increase school safety;
   (iv) study measures other states and  countries  have  implemented  to
 increase school safety; and
   (v) make recommendations on measures the state of New York may take in
 order to increase school safety.
   c.  No  later  than one year after the effective date of this act, the
 task force shall report its findings to the governor  and  the  legisla-
 ture, as described under subdivision b of this section.
   § 2. a. The task force shall be comprised of:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04128-01-3
              

 S. 1958                             2
 
   (i) five members appointed by the governor;
   (ii)  five members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
 and
   (iii) five members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
   b. Of the five members appointed by the governor, temporary  president
 of the senate, and speaker of the assembly, each shall appoint:
   (i) one member with experience in teaching;
   (ii) one member with experience as a mental health professional;
   (iii) one member with experience in law enforcement;
   (iv) one member with experience as a school administrator; and
   (v) one member with experience as a school safety agent.
   c.  One of the appointments by the governor shall serve as chairperson
 of the task force.
   d. The members of the task force shall  receive  no  compensation  for
 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
 incurred in the performance of their services.
   e.  All  departments,  divisions,  bureaus,  commissions, districts or
 agencies of the state or any political subdivisions  thereof  shall,  at
 the request of the chairperson, provide the task force with such facili-
 ties, assistance and data as will enable the task force to carry out its
 powers and duties.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.