This bill creates a special "guardians for schools" license plate for New York residents. Owners pay a $25 annual fee on top of standard registration, with all fees deposited into the "guardians for schools fund." The fund must be used exclusively for school security improvements, including school resource officers, security training, mental health services, metal detectors, and security cameras. Funds cannot be diverted to the general state budget.
Relates to including at least one person who is familiar with the needs of students with disabilities in the development of school safety plans; provides that building-level response plans shall include a list including each student with a disability enrolled at the site together with information from the student's individualized education program (IEP) that is relevant to ensuring the student's safety and the role of the staff member responsible for assisting the student in an emergency.
Prohibits discrimination against and harassment or bullying of students by other students on school property or at a school function; requires schools to investigate reports of bullying; requires schools to adopt a written, plain-language anti-bullying and harassment policy; requires school employees to report incidents of bullying or harassment.
This bill requires all New York public school districts (except New York City) to employ certified school psychologists and licensed school social workers to provide mental health services. It amends education law to mandate these professionals as part of required school mental health services, including evaluations, assessments, and interventions for students' mental health needs. The law specifies these roles must be in addition to staff required under federal special education law (IDEA), directly affecting every public school district and all students attending those schools. The bill defines the scope of services, including confidentiality protocols and school environment recommendations, without altering existing health service requirements.
Establishes the New York state school safety and security act; establishes the office of school safety and security to perform assessments of educational facilities for safety and security and provide safety and security training; establishes the school safety and security advisory board to establish school safety and security best practices and resources; imposes a one percent tax on mobile sports wagering to fund such office.
Strengthens protections against discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on actual or perceived immigration status, and to improve implementation and oversight under the Dignity for All Students Act.
Requires two qualified psychiatrists to be employed by each school district to perform and coordinate the provision of mental health services in the public schools.
Requires the city of New York to establish the New York city school safety fund, which transfers fines collected from the city's photo speed violation monitoring program and fines from the overpassing of stopped school buses to the fund to be used for school initiatives relating to the safe travel of students.
This bill (S 4015) requires private, religious, and denominational schools in New York to comply with the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), which prohibits bullying and harassment based on protected characteristics. It removes an existing exemption that previously excluded these institutions from DASA's protections. The law now applies equally to all schools, ensuring students at private religious schools receive the same anti-bullying safeguards as those in public schools. The bill does not alter other existing laws like the ADA or Title VII, but extends DASA coverage to previously exempt institutions.
This bill (S 82) requires all New York City public schools to have at least one certified assistant principal. It directly affects NYC schools and their administrative staffing. Key provisions include mandating that assistant principals handle school safety when the principal is absent and may be required to attend training to address educational needs. The bill sets minimum staffing standards to ensure school safety and proper management, without changing funding or creating new programs.
