New York Senate Bill S01118

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Creates a school resource officer working group to study appropriate standards and training for a person to serve as a school resource officer; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.

Summary

S01118 would amend the New York Education Law to create a temporary school resource officer working group within the Department of Education. The commissioner of education would be required to convene a group made up of state education and law enforcement officials, including the commissioner of criminal justice services, the superintendent of state police, a sheriffs’ association representative, and members of the municipal police training council appointed by the governor, Senate, and Assembly leaders. The working group would study and recommend standards for school resource officers, including whether physical fitness standards, age limits, and training requirements are appropriate, who should create and enforce those standards, and what sensitivity training should be available for officers working with school-aged children. It would also examine civil service and benefit implications and the potential fiscal impact on school districts, then submit a public report to the governor and legislature within six months. The bill is designed to expire and be repealed nine months after that report is issued.

Impact

The bill does not immediately change school resource officer qualifications or school safety rules; instead, it creates a temporary advisory process that could lead to future legislation, regulations, or training standards. Its main legal effect is to add a new section to the Education Law establishing the working group, its membership, duties, reporting deadline, and automatic sunset. It also directs the commissioner to notify the legislative bill drafting commission so the official law database can be updated when the temporary provisions expire.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be framed as a study-and-recommendation bill rather than a controversial policy mandate. Its structure suggests a cautious, exploratory approach that may appeal to supporters of school safety and standardized officer training while avoiding immediate operational changes for districts. Because there are no transcripts or votes provided, there is no documented public split in the available record, but the inclusion of law enforcement, education, and fiscal stakeholders indicates an effort to balance multiple interests.

Contention

The likely points of contention are whether school resource officers should be subject to formal physical fitness, age, and training standards, and which entity should control those standards if adopted. Another potential issue is the cost to school districts and the civil service or benefits consequences of imposing new requirements on officers already serving in schools. The bill also implicitly raises broader policy questions about the role of armed law enforcement in schools and how to ensure officers are trained to interact appropriately with children.