S 1251: Establishes a task force to study the frequency and seriousness of violence that occurs on school grounds and the causes of such violence; and make recommendations on school safety in the state of New York.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1251 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 8, 2025 ___________ 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: 1 Section 1. a. A task force is hereby established to study school safe- 2 ty at schools in the state of New York. For purposes of this act, 3 "violence" shall mean any occurrence that may compel a school official 4 to contact law enforcement for assistance. 5 b. The task force shall: 6 (i) study the frequency and seriousness of violence that occurs on 7 school grounds; 8 (ii) study the causes of such violence, including the influence of: 9 (1) school size and environment; 10 (2) home environment and abuse; 11 (3) community environment; 12 (4) cyber abuse; 13 (5) psychological factors; 14 (6) media coverage of violent acts; and 15 (7) any other influences the task force deems relevant; 16 (iii) study current measures implemented by schools in the state of 17 New York to increase school safety; 18 (iv) study measures other states and countries have implemented to 19 increase school safety; and 20 (v) make recommendations on measures the state of New York may take in 21 order to increase school safety. 22 c. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the 23 task force shall report its findings to the governor and the legisla- 24 ture, as described under subdivision b of this section. 25 § 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. LBD01437-01-5 
 S. 1251 2 1 (i) five members appointed by the governor; 2 (ii) five members appointed by the temporary president of the senate; 3 and 4 (iii) five members appointed by the speaker of the assembly. 5 b. Of the five members appointed by the governor, temporary president 6 of the senate, and speaker of the assembly, each shall appoint: 7 (i) one member with experience in teaching; 8 (ii) one member with experience as a mental health professional; 9 (iii) one member with experience in law enforcement; 10 (iv) one member with experience as a school administrator; and 11 (v) one member with experience as a school safety agent. 12 c. One of the appointments by the governor shall serve as chairperson 13 of the task force. 14 d. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for 15 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses 16 incurred in the performance of their services. 17 e. All departments, divisions, bureaus, commissions, districts or 18 agencies of the state or any political subdivisions thereof shall, at 19 the request of the chairperson, provide the task force with such facili- 20 ties, assistance and data as will enable the task force to carry out its 21 powers and duties. 22 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.