S4559C

The New York State Senate passed legislation requiring mandatory certification and training for all school security personnel, with a 50-11 vote. Senate Print 4559C, sponsored by Sen. Martinez, amends the General Business Law to establish statewide training standards for school security guards. The training would be administered by the Department of State in collaboration with the Division of Criminal Justice Services, Division of Homeland Security, State Police, and local law enforcement. During floor debate, Sen. Murray raised concerns about implementation details, including the duration of training, whether it would remove guards from their posts, and potential impacts on school district recruitment and retention efforts. Sen. Martinez clarified that active police officers are exempt from the requirement, but retired officers with five or more years of service must participate. The bill has the support of the New York State School Boards Association and was developed in collaboration with former law enforcement officials and school board trustees. Costs for certification would be borne by individuals seeking the license rather than school districts. Eleven senators voted against the measure, primarily from the Republican conference.