BILL NUMBER: S6121

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the dissem-
ination of materials regarding child access prevention and the safe
storage of firearms

 
PURPOSE:

To require the division of criminal justice services to develop model
content related to child access prevention and safe storage of firearms
laws, and require school districts to provide notice of these laws to
parents and parental guardians of students.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the executive law to add a new section 845-f, entitled
"Firearms; child access prevention and safe storage."

First, it sets out definitions to be used in this section, including
              

"school district," "notice," and "school year." Notice is model content
outlined in subdivision two, produced in a concise, publishable format,
such as a brochure, flyer, handbill, leaflet, letter, or pamphlet.

Second, it requires the division of criminal justice services to devel-
op, on or before July 1, 2026, model content for notice of New York's
child access prevention laws and laws relating to the safe storage of
firearms, including but not limited to Penal Law § 265.45 and § 265.50.
The model content shall be produced in the English language and in
common non-English languages spoken in the state. The model content
shall also designate a section for county- and local-specific laws
submitted to it by each county. It then requires the division to update,
as necessary, the model content each July 1st. Lastly, it requires the
department to publish and update the model content on its website.

Third, it requires each county, on or before May 1, 2026, to submit to
the division all county- and local-specific laws and regulations related
to child access prevention and the safe storage of firearms.  It then
requires, as necessary, each county to submit any updated laws to the
department each subsequent May 1 going forward.

Fourth, it requires all school districts, beginning on July 1, 2026, to
provide notice, at the beginning of school year, of the model content
directly to parents, guardians, or persons in parental relation to each
student of the school; provided, however, that if a child enrolls after
the beginning of the school year, notice shall be provided within one
week of such enrollment. Notice may be provided as a single notice for
multiple students living in the same household.

Fifth, it requires all school districts, beginning on July 1 2026, to
maintain the model content through their website or affiliated social
media presences.

Sixth, it makes clear that local schools, school districts, and the
division of criminal justice services are immune from civil liability
for any damages allegedly caused by, arising out of, or relating to

notice if the entity provided notice using the model language provided
to it provided by the division.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

While New York has made important strides in passing gun-safety laws
related to the safe storage of firearms and child access prevention,
public awareness of the details of these laws remains comparatively low.
Increasing public awareness of gun-safety laws is especially relevant
for parents and parental guardians of students in school districts
across the state. Having up-to-date information can create safer commu-
nities and keep parents and parental guardians informed of gun-safety
laws pertinent to their daily lives.(1)

This legislation works to standardize and make accessible laws and
information related to safe storage of firearms and child access
prevention for parents and parental guardians by requiring the division
of criminal justice services to develop and update model content outlin-
ing current gun-safety laws. The model content shall also include any
county and/or local laws related to child access prevention and the safe
storage of firearms submitted to the division from each county.

Starting on July 1, 2026, every school district shall disseminate notice
of the model content to every parent or parental guardian of the
students of the school at the beginning of the school year. Every school
district shall also maintain the model content on their website and/or
affiliated social media presences.

Local schools, school districts, and the division of criminal justice
services are immune from civil liability for any damages allegedly
caused by, arising out of, or relating to notice if the entity provides
notice using the model content provided by the department.

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all parents, guardi-
ans, and persons in parental relation to students are kept up-to-date
with written and online information of current child access prevention
laws and laws related to the safe storage of firearms. By requiring the
division of criminal justice services to prepare such model content, and
requiring all school districts to disseminate such model content,
parents and parental guardians of students across the state of New York
will be sufficiently informed of laws that ensure their children's safe-
ty.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
(1) As one scholar explains, public legal education "provides people
with awareness, knowledge and understanding of rights and legal issues,
together with the confidence and skills they need to deal with disputes
and gain access to justice ... and .. recognize when they may need
support ... and how to go about getting it. see Richard Grimes, PUBLIC
LEGAL EDUCATION -THE ROLE OF LAW SCHOOLS IN BUILDING A MORE LEGALLY
LITERATE SOCIETY (2021).