STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                         6980--A
            Cal. No. 1230

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                      May 16, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  MAYER  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the  Committee  on  Education  --  reported
          favorably  from  said  committee,  ordered to first and second report,
          amended on second report, ordered  to  a  third  reading,  and  to  be
          reprinted  as amended, retaining its place in the order of third read-
          ing

        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the  dissem-
          ination  of  materials  regarding child access prevention and the safe
          storage of firearms

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 808-a
     2  to read as follows:
     3    § 808-a. Firearms; child access prevention and safe  storage.  1.  For
     4  the  purposes of this section the following terms shall have the follow-
     5  ing meanings:
     6    a. "school district" shall  mean  any  city  school  district,  common
     7  school  district, union free school district, central school district or
     8  central high school district;
     9    b. "school" shall mean any public  school  district,  charter  school,
    10  private  school,  parochial  school, or board of cooperative educational
    11  services;
    12    c. "private school" shall mean a person, firm,  association,  partner-
    13  ship,  or  corporation offering or conducting private school instruction
    14  in the state;
    15    d. "notice" shall  mean  written  information  of  the  model  content
    16  outlined  in  subdivision  two  of  this section, produced in a concise,
    17  publishable format,  such  as  a  brochure,  flyer,  handbill,  leaflet,
    18  letter,  or  pamphlet,  that  is  intended  to  be  provided directly to
    19  parents, guardians, or persons in parental relation to a student of  the
    20  school,  delivered to a receptacle designated for a student, mailed to a

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD11045-03-3

        S. 6980--A                          2

     1  student's last known address, emailed to a person in  parental  relation
     2  to a student of the school, or delivered by any other reasonable methods
     3  authorized by the commissioner; and
     4    e.  "school year" shall mean the period commencing on the first day of
     5  regular instruction and shall end on the last day of instruction.
     6    2. a. On or before July first, two thousand twenty-four,  the  depart-
     7  ment  shall  develop  model  content for notice, produced in the English
     8  language and in common non-English languages spoken in the state,  which
     9  shall  include,  at  a  minimum,  information outlining New York's child
    10  access prevention  laws  and  laws  relating  to  the  safe  storage  of
    11  firearms,  including,  but not limited to, sections 265.45 and 265.50 of
    12  the penal law. The model content shall also include  relevant  statewide
    13  resources  and  information related to child access prevention, the safe
    14  storage of firearms, and firearm violence prevention.
    15    b.   Such model content shall designate  a  section  for  county-  and
    16  local-specific  laws  and  regulations submitted to it by each county as
    17  outlined in subdivision three of  this  section.  The  department  shall
    18  tailor  the model content for each county by including in the designated
    19  section for county- and local-specific laws and regulations the  county-
    20  and local-specific laws submitted to it by each county.
    21    c.  On  or  before July first, two thousand twenty-five, and each July
    22  first thereafter, the department shall update, as necessary,  the  model
    23  content developed pursuant to paragraphs a and b of this subdivision.
    24    d.  The  department  shall  publish  the  model  content developed and
    25  updated pursuant to paragraphs a, b, and c of this  subdivision  on  its
    26  website.
    27    3.  a.  On or before May first, two thousand twenty-four, every county
    28  shall submit to the department all information of county- and local-spe-
    29  cific laws and regulations related to child access  prevention  and  the
    30  safe storage of firearms.
    31    b.  On  or  before  May  first, two thousand twenty-five, and each May
    32  first thereafter, every  county  shall  submit  to  the  department  any
    33  updated information, insofar as it exists, of county- and local-specific
    34  laws  related  to  child  access  prevention  and  the  safe  storage of
    35  firearms.
    36    4. Beginning on July  first,  two  thousand  twenty-four,  all  school
    37  districts  shall  provide notice, at the beginning of the first semester
    38  or quarter of the regular school year, of the model content outlined  in
    39  paragraphs  a and b of subdivision two of this section; provided, howev-
    40  er, that if a child enrolls after the  beginning  of  the  school  year,
    41  notice  of  the  model content shall be provided within one week of such
    42  enrollment. Notice of the model content may  be  provided  as  a  single
    43  notice for multiple students living in the same household.
    44    5.  Beginning  on  July  first,  two  thousand twenty-four, all school
    45  districts shall maintain, through their  website  or  affiliated  social
    46  media  presences,  the  model  content outlined in paragraphs a and b of
    47  subdivision two of this section. The model content shall be updated,  as
    48  necessary, pursuant to paragraph c of subdivision two of this section.
    49    6. Local schools, school districts, and the department are immune from
    50  civil  liability for any damages allegedly caused by, arising out of, or
    51  relating to notice if the entity provided notice using the model content
    52  provided to it by the department.
    53    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.