Establishes guidelines for filing criminal complaints against students who commit crimes against other students on school grounds

BILL NUMBER:S4066

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to estab- lishing guidelines for filing complaints against students who commit crimes against other students on school grounds

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would allow school districts to create rules to allow schools to file criminal complaints against students who commit crimes against other students or engage in harassing, bullying, menacing or threatening behavior to other students on school grounds both with the consent of the victim's parents or guardians and/or without the consent of the parents and or guardians.

Justification

Most parents and members of communities believe that schools should be places where children develop intellectually and socially. The idea that school violence, in whatever form, interferes with the orderly operation and safety of schools is anathema to the public. Beyond concerns about physical injury to children, disruption of the school environment inter- feres with others' learning and can create a climate of fear in which children avoid school or engage in behaviors to protect themselves. Over the last few sessions, we have continually fought in the budget process to give resources to our local schools to make sure students get a safe quality education. Schools need the ability to provide a safe environ- ment which is just as important as the quality of the education. Order in the schools is necessary. By giving the schools tools such as alter- native learning settings for disruptive students and now the ability to swear out a criminal complaint against violent students, we can provide a good environment for all other students.

Prior legislative history

S.1704 of 2011 01/11/11 Referred to Education 01/04/12 Referred to Education 01/09/13 REFERRED TO EDUCATION 01/08/14 REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Fiscal implications

None to state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall become a law: provided, however that any rule or regulation neces- sary for this implementation of this act on its effective date shall be promulgated on or before such date.