Requires police departments and the department of education to provide the public with information regarding school violence

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring police departments and the department of education to provide the public with information regarding school violence

Purpose

To require police departments and the department of education to provide the public with information regarding school violence.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 contains the legislative findings.

Section 2 amends the education law by adding a new section 2803 providing the department of education shall make available to the public reports reflecting the environment of criminal and seriously disruptive behavior in schools operated by the department. Such reports shall include an annual reporting, on a statewide basis as well as for each school, of information reported by local police departments to the department of education on crime, non-criminal incidents and disruptive, dangerous and violent behavior. The department of education shall make such reports available on its web site and in paper form at all schools and all district and regional offices, available to the public upon request. These reports are due by October 1 of each year.

Section 3 provides this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however, that effectively immediately, the addition, amendment or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act shall be made and completed on or before such effective date.

Existing law

This is a new law.

Justification

In order to combat violence in our schools, residents of the state must have accurate information on the number and types of incidents occurring and where these incidents are taking place. This information must be made public so that parents are aware of the safety conditions within which their children learn and so that our civic leaders can institute meaningful reform.

To help parents and the public understand and fully assess the problem of school crime and other serious disruptive incidents, the Department of Education must continue to enhance and improve upon the information of school safety data that is provided on the Internet. By receiving this information, the public will be in a better position to analyze and comment upon any inconsistencies and to weigh in on proposed policy amendments.

Legislative history

New bill

Fiscal implications

Undetermined

Local fiscal implications

No significant cost

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however, that effectively immediately, the addition, amendment or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act shall be made and completed on or before such effective date.