S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2494
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 17, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. BENDETT -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law and the education law, in relation  to
   establishing the school safety specialist act
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be  cited  as  the  "school
 safety specialist act".
   §  2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 844 to read
 as follows:
   § 844. SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. 1. THE DIVISION
 SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR  SCHOOL  SAFETY
 SPECIALISTS, INCLUDING:
   (A) DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH PROGRAM AND ITS CONTENT AND METHODOLOGY;
   (B) CREATION OF THE APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS; AND
   (C) MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OF SUCH PROGRAM.
   2. TOPICS OF TRAINING FOR SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALISTS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT
 NOT BE LIMITED TO: HOW TO PREVENT, PREPARE, AND RESPOND TO SCHOOL SAFETY
 INCIDENTS; HOW TO CREATE A CULTURE OF SCHOOL SAFETY; EMERGENCY PREPARED-
 NESS  PLANNING; SCHOOL THREAT ASSESSMENT; SITUATIONAL AWARENESS; STRATE-
 GIC CRISIS LEADERSHIP AND RISK COMMUNICATION; SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH
 MEDIATION; DRUG PREVENTION AND AWARENESS; CYBERBULLYING; PREDATORY SEXU-
 AL BEHAVIOR; SUBSTANCE USE; VIOLENCE; SUICIDE PREVENTION AND  MEDIATION;
 AND GANG RESISTANCE.
   §  3.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 2801-c to
 read as follows:
   § 2801-C. SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALIST. 1. ANY PUBLIC OR NONPUBLIC  SCHOOL
 MAY  EMPLOY  A  SCHOOL  SAFETY  SPECIALIST CERTIFIED PURSUANT TO SECTION
 EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  LAW,  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF
 PROVIDING  IMPROVED  PUBLIC  SAFETY  AND  SECURITY  ON SCHOOL GROUNDS. A

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06167-01-5
 A. 2494                             2
              

 
 SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO  EMPLOY  AS  MANY  SCHOOL  SAFETY
 SPECIALISTS AS SUCH DISTRICT DEEMS NECESSARY.
   2. SCHOOL SAFETY SPECIALISTS, IN EXECUTING THEIR ROLE, MAY ALSO:
   A.  PROPOSE AND ENFORCE POLICIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS RELATED TO
 SCHOOL SAFETY;
   B. UTILIZE ANY TECHNOLOGY TO IMPLEMENT SAFETY;
   C. SERVE AS A LIAISON WITH OTHER SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY  AGEN-
 CIES,  INCLUDING,  BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, COURTS,
 HEALTH CARE ENTITIES, AND MENTAL HEALTH ENTITIES;
   D. DEVELOP AND EXECUTE STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION, RESPONSE, AND RECOV-
 ERY EFFORTS FOR  INCIDENTS  AND/OR  EMERGENCY  SITUATIONS  OCCURRING  ON
 SCHOOL  GROUNDS INVOLVING STUDENTS, FACULTY, ADMINISTRATION, OR VISITORS
 TO SUCH SCHOOL;
   E. ASSIST IN SCHOOL EMERGENCY DRILLS AND CREATING  NEW  SCHOOL  SAFETY
 PLANS; AND
   F. PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND MENTORING SERVICES TO STUDENTS.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.