What's happening
This bill expands building aid eligibility to include school security and safety improvements, not just metal detectors and cameras.
Why it matters
Broadens state financial support. By including "school security and safety improvements" in addition to metal detectors and cameras, the bill allows districts to access building aid for a much wider range of security initiatives (e.g., upgraded entry systems, improved lighting, reinforced doors, or new emergency communication systems).
Long-term funding certainty. The bill removes the sunset date for this aid (previously set to expire in 2023), ensuring schools can plan and invest in security infrastructure with long-term state support, rather than facing uncertainty about future funding.
Integration with school safety plans. Any project funded under this expanded aid must be included in the district’s official school safety plan, encouraging a comprehensive and strategic approach to security rather than piecemeal or ad hoc purchases.
Potential for evolving safety needs. The new language allows for future security technologies or approaches to be eligible for aid as needs and best practices change, rather than limiting support to a narrow set of devices.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Aid for School Safety Upgrades
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
115
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing building aid for school security and safety improvements
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 6-c of section 3602 of the education law, as amended by chapter 1 of the laws of 2013, paragraph b as amended by section 11 of part CCC of chapter 59 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
6-c. a. Building aid for metal detectors, security and safety improvements, and safety devices for electrically operated partitions, room dividers and doors. In addition to the apportionments payable to a school district pursuant to subdivision six of this section, the commissioner is hereby authorized to apportion to any school district additional building aid pursuant to this subdivision for its approved expenditures in the base year for the purchase of stationary metal detectors, security cameras, school security and safety improvements, and safety devices for electrically operated partitions and room dividers required pursuant to section four hundred nine-f of this chapter, or other security devices approved by the commissioner that increase the safety of students and school personnel, provided, however, that funds apportioned to school districts pursuant to this section shall not supplant funds for existing district expenditures or for existing contractual obligations of the district for stationary metal detectors, security cameras, school security and safety improvements, and partition and room divider safety devices, or security devices. Portable or hand held metal detectors shall not be eligible for aid pursuant to this subdivision. Such additional aid shall equal the product of the building aid ratio computed for use in the current year pursuant to paragraph c
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02927-01-9
S. 115 2
of subdivision six of this section and the actual approved expenditures incurred in the base year pursuant to this subdivision, provided that the limitations on cost allowances prescribed by paragraph a of subdivision six of this section shall not apply. The commissioner shall annually prescribe a special cost allowance for metal detectors, and security cameras, and the approved expenditures shall not exceed such cost allowance. The commissioner shall annually prescribe a special cost allowance for partition and room divider safety devices, and the approved expenditures shall not exceed such cost allowance.
b. For projects approved by the commissioner authorized to receive additional building aid pursuant to this subdivision for the purchase of stationary metal detectors, security cameras or other security devices approved by the commissioner that increase the safety of students and school personnel, provided that for purposes of this paragraph such other security devices shall be limited to electronic security systems and hardened doors, and provided that for projects approved by the commissioner on or after the first day of July two thousand thirteen and [before the first day of July two thousand twenty-three] thereafter such additional aid shall equal the product of (i) the building aid ratio computed for use in the current year pursuant to paragraph c of subdivision six of this section plus ten percentage points, except that in no case shall this amount exceed one hundred percent, and (ii) the actual approved expenditures incurred in the base year pursuant to this subdivision, provided that the limitations on cost allowances prescribed by paragraph a of subdivision six of this section shall not apply, and provided further that any projects aided under this paragraph must be included in a district's school safety plan. The commissioner shall annually prescribe a special cost allowance for metal detectors, and security cameras, and the approved expenditures shall not exceed such cost allowance.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing building aid for school security and safety improvements
Purpose
This legislation would allow improvements made for school security and safety improvements eligible for building aid.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 would allow improvements made for school security and safety improvements eligible for building aid.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Ensuring our children are safe at school is an issue that must be addressed. Current law allows for metal detectors and security cameras to be eligible for building aid but no further security measures. This legislation would expand to school security and safety improvements that could be reimbursed via building aid. Items such as panic alarms, hard- ening of doors are currently excluded from building aid and this legis- lation will address this inequity.
Legislative history
S 7942 of 2018, Advanced to Third Reading.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.