New York Assembly Bill A06733

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/11/25
• Refer: 3/11/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Establishes the New York state school resource officer program; provides for grants for school resource officers (Part A); relates to peace officers who are retired police officers employed by a school district as a school resource officer (Part B); allows retired police officers to be employed by a school district as a school safety officer, school security officer or any other substantially similar position for an annual salary of $50,000 or less to continue to receive their full retirement benefit (Part C).

Impact

The bill's passage is expected to amend existing laws relevant to educational safety protocols by formally recognizing and funding the positions of school resource officers as critical to school safety. Additionally, the legislation proposes a grant provision enabling reimbursement for the salaries of school resource officers in nonpublic schools. This ensures that schools can maintain security measures without significantly increasing their operational costs, making it a more sustainable approach to enhancing school safety across various types of educational institutions.

Summary

A06733 establishes the New York state school resource officer program aimed at enhancing safety in schools through designated personnel tasked with security and public safety duties on school grounds. The bill identifies the term 'school resource officer' to include various roles that ensure improved safety and security at public, nonpublic, and charter schools. The program allows schools to employ both actively serving and retired law enforcement officers, thereby broadening the pool of available security personnel dedicated to student welfare and school safety.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding A06733 include concerns regarding the implications of employing retired police officers in school settings, particularly regarding their ability to carry firearms on school property. Critics argue about the potential risks of introducing armed personnel into educational environments and the effects this might have on the school community's perception of safety. Furthermore, opposition may arise regarding the adequacy of funding for this initiative and whether it effectively addresses broader issues of school safety beyond just personnel presence.