A 4980: Adds training of school personnel in non-lethal defense skills to requirements for school safety plans.
The proposed law aims to improve school safety by requiring training for school personnel in non-lethal defense skills. This training should include de-escalation techniques, use of gel pepper spray, tasers, and other non-lethal forms of defense. The law also emphasizes the importance of effective recruitment and fair treatment of school safety officers and security personnel. Furthermore, it recommends the use of prevention and intervention strategies such as collaborative arrangements with law enforcement officials, non-violent conflict resolution training programs, peer mediation programs, and extended day school safety programs. These measures are intended to enhance school safety and create a more secure environment for students and staff.
- What is the current status of A 4980?
- As of January 8, 2026, A 4980 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "referred to education".
- Did A 4980 pass?
- Not yet. A 4980 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote A 4980, and where is it now?
- A 4980 was authored by Asm. David DiPietro. Its committee of record is Assembly Education.
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to education |
| Feb. 10, 2025 | referred to education |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4980 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 10, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to training of school personnel in non-lethal defense skills The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 2801-a of the 2 education law, as amended by section 1 of part B of chapter 54 of the 3 laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows: 4 c. appropriate prevention and intervention strategies such as: 5 (i) collaborative arrangements with state and local law enforcement 6 officials, designed to ensure that school safety officers and other 7 security personnel are adequately trained, including being trained to 8 de-escalate potentially violent situations, and are effectively and 9 fairly recruited; 10 (ii) non-violent conflict resolution training programs; 11 (iii) training in alternative defense skills for all school staff, 12 including the use of gel pepper spray, tasers and other non-lethal forms 13 of defense; 14 (iv) peer mediation programs and youth courts; and 15 [(iv)] (v) extended day and other school safety programs; 16 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding 17 the date on which it shall have become a law. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD07264-01-5