Provides for a gun violence prevention program in the public schools

1 Co-sponsor

• Tony Avella

BILL NUMBER:S62A

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to creating a gun violence prevention program

Purpose

Provides for a gun violence prevention program which may be utilized in the public schools. The program will be developed by the State Education Department, drawing upon the expertise of the Department of Health, the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Summary of provisions

This bill adds a new section 3204-a to the education law directing the State Education Department to develop and make available to school-aged youth and their families a gun violence prevention program. It also requires the Department to report to the Governor and the Legislature one year after the effective date of the law, assessing the results of the gun violence prevention program hereby established. The bill provides that the report will include findings as to the program's impact on reducing gunshot injuries among children and adolescents, will offer recommendations as to whether the gun violence prevention program should be expanded, modified, or eliminated and whether other gun violence prevention programs should be authorized.

Justification

Gunshot injuries are a major cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States, accounting for 12% of all premature deaths. Further, for every young person who dies as the result of a gunshot injury, five others are seriously injured by a gunshot. Concentrated efforts in the areas of drug and alcohol abuse prevention have demonstrated that preventative education can reduce risks for youth. But while there are many drug prevention programs, there are few gun violence prevention programs in existence. The intent of the legislature in enacting the "gun violence prevention act" is to implement a gun violence prevention program for school-aged youth and their families. It is a primary prevention program designed to help young people develop victim prevention skills and to rehearse behaviors needed to manage problems, such as conflict and peer pressure, non-violently, without guns. The program does not oppose gun ownership or the well-supervised use of guns for hunting or sport. Thus, this is not a "pro-gun" or "anti-gun" measure. It is simply designed to use the resources of the State Education Department to protect children from an untimely death due to a gunshot.

Legislative history

2011-12: S.669-A 2010: S.4082/A.506 - Referred to Education 2008: S.1930/A.8408 - Referred to Education 2007: S.1930/A.8408 - Referred to Education

Fiscal implications

Small cost to the state for developing and disseminating materials.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.