NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7999

Senate Bill S7999

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires the installation of a master key box at each school building for building access by law enforcement and emergency responders

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 15, 2025	referred to education

2025-S7999 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §409-o, Ed L

2025-S7999 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the installation of a master key box at each school building for building access by law enforcement and emergency responders; must meet the underwriters laboratories standard UL 1037.

2025-S7999 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7999

SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the instal-
lation of a master key box at each school building for building access
by law enforcement and emergency responders

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends Article 9 of the education law by adding title 409-0.
The newly added title establishes a date by which administrators and
staff alike are responsible for installing.a master key box outside
every public and private school, or educational institution. It grants
authorization for local law enforcement and emergency responders to have
access to the master key boxes. It also a list of required materials to
be in the master box.

§ 2. Relates to the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In emergency scenarios, every second counts. Schools and other educa-
tional institutions often enter into lockdown and confinement as a safe-
ty measure until threats can be neutralized. However, this creates
obstacles for our first responders as they lose valuable time trying to
gain access to the emergency site. Every moment spent on entry is a
critical moment lost that could be used to save lives.  Ensuring easy
accessibility to all public and private schools allows for faster and
safer emergency response. In addition to keys, access boxes should
contain maps that could make site navigation easier.  Access to detailed
maps enables responders to work together, coordinate, and visualize
their plans and execute them efficiently.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S7999 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7999
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- 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 requiring the  instal-
   lation of a master key box at each school building for building access
   by law enforcement and emergency responders

   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  409-o
 to read as follows:
   §  409-O.  MASTER KEY BOX. 1. NOT LATER THAN JUNE THIRTIETH, TWO THOU-
 SAND TWENTY-SEVEN, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TRUSTEES, PRINCIPAL OR  OTHER
 PERSON IN CHARGE OF EVERY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL OR EDUCATIONAL INSTI-
 TUTION  WITHIN  THE  STATE  SHALL  ARRANGE FOR, REQUIRE, AND INSTALL ONE
 EXTERIOR SECURE MASTER KEY BOX IN EACH SCHOOL BUILDING  IT  OPERATES  TO
 PERMIT  EMERGENCY  ACCESS TO BOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND EMERGENCY
 RESPONDERS FROM  AN  EXTERIOR  LOCATION  DESIGNATED  BY  THE  LOCAL  LAW
 ENFORCEMENT  AUTHORITIES. EACH DISTRICT OR SCHOOL SHALL COLLABORATE WITH
 LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INCLUDE IN THE MASTER KEY BOX ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) MASTER EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL KEYS;
   (B) ACCESS CARDS;
   (C) MAPS OF THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
   2. EACH MASTER KEY BOX SHALL MEET THE STANDARD  FOR  ANTITHEFT  ALARMS
 AND  DEVICES  AS PRESCRIBED UNDER THE UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES STANDARD
 UL 1037.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13081-01-5

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