Regardless of political differences, there are fundamental priorities we can all agree on, including keeping our kids safe. To that end, I’ve introduced several pieces of legislation to ensure New York’s children are better protected from harm.
Currently the law prohibits the State from taking action against an educator’s license until there is a criminal conviction or a completed Education Department investigation. This process can take significant time, allowing educators accused of serious misconduct to resign from their positions and reapply elsewhere without other schools being aware of the situation. We saw this play out right here in Orange County when, unbeknownst to Monroe-Woodbury, a teacher under investigation for sexually abusing children in another district was hired. My bill, S.312, would both ensure due process for accused individuals and protect students by requiring the Department of Education flag individuals under serious investigation during hiring background checks.
S.1694, would prohibit the recording of entrances and exits of school grounds. Students–along with school personnel–shouldn’t be subjected to surveillance when they arrive at school. This legislation would ensure safety and privacy. The bill is scheduled for a vote and expected to pass the Senate later this month.
Senate bill S.5765 would ensure a more immediate response to allegations of child abuse at school by strengthening reporting requirements, requiring an “immediate” response to a parent or guardian. Current law only requires a “prompt” response, occasionally leading to unacceptable delays in parent notification.
The common thread connecting all three pieces of legislation that I’ve authored is prioritizing the safety and well-being of students – which ought to be a core priority that every New Yorker and American shares.
