S6537

The New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Gounardes that reduces mandatory school lockdown drills from four per year to at least one, while maintaining eight fire and evacuation drills. The bill passed 41-20 on a largely party-line vote, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing. The measure establishes trauma-informed standards for drills, requires parental notice, and allows parents to opt out of participation. It also permits school districts to conduct more than one lockdown drill annually if they choose. Supporters, including former teacher Sen. Mannion and parent-senators, argued that data shows multiple drills cause psychological trauma without improving safety, and that New York's four-drill mandate is the highest in the nation. Opponents, led by Sen. Rhoads, contended that reducing drills undermines student preparedness, citing the principle that "you play like you practice" and arguing that fewer drills make students less safe in actual emergencies. Sen. Gounardes emphasized that the bill does not eliminate lockdown drills but rather establishes consistent, trauma-informed standards across the state. He noted that 40 of 50 states have lockdown drill mandates, with only New York and two other states requiring more than two drills annually. The debate became heated at times, with some senators accusing opponents of not caring about children's safety, prompting the presiding officer to call for decorum.