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A 6605

Allows school resource officers to be hired with salary aidable to the school district; raises retirement salaries for such officers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Angelino and 18 co-sponsors

Authorizes districts to hire school resource officers with salaries eligible for state aid and raises retirement benefits for those SROs.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 6605

Summary of Bill A 6605

Overview

Bill A 6605 would reform how school resource officers (SROs) are funded and compensated. Specifically, it would allow districts to hire SROs with salaries that are eligible for state aid (“aidable”) to the district, and it would raise retirement salaries for those officers. The bill is currently in the Education committee after being introduced on March 6, 2025.

  • Bill number: A 6605
  • Title: Allows school resource officers to be hired with salary aidable to the school district; raises retirement salaries for such officers
  • Status: Referred to Education
  • Introduced: March 6, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: Philip Palmesano
  • Cosponsors: (list includes Matthew Simpson, Brian Maher, Daniel Norber, Joseph Sempolinski, Jeff Gallahan, Chris Tague, David DiPietro, Joe DeStefano, Josh Jensen, Karl Brabenec, David McDonough, Andrea Bailey, Anil Beephan Jr., Andrew Molitor, Keith Brown, Joe Angelino, John K. Mikulin, Stephen Hawley; among others)

What the bill would do (key provisions)

  • Funding mechanism for SROs: Authorizes school districts to hire school resource officers whose salaries are eligible for state aid. This implies that districts could receive state financial support toward the salaries of SROs, potentially easing local funding burdens.
  • Retirement compensation: The bill would raise retirement salaries for SROs. This indicates an enhancement to pension or retirement benefits specifically for officers serving as SROs.
  • Scope and eligibility details: The exact definitions, eligibility criteria, and administrative rules (e.g., what constitutes an “aidable” salary, how the state aid calculation would work, and the level of retirement benefit increases) are not provided in the information available here.

Who would be affected

  • School districts: Potentially increased ability to hire SROs with financial support from state aid; changes to budgeting for police services in schools.
  • School resource officers: Potentially higher retirement benefits and better compensation structures.
  • Students and school communities: Could impact school safety staffing levels and the presence of law enforcement on campuses.
  • Law enforcement partners: SROs and agencies providing personnel for school duty.
  • State and local policymakers: Fiscal and policy considerations related to education aid and public safety.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Referred to the Education committee, indicating the bill is pending committee review and potential debate or amendments.
  • Timeline: As introduced on March 6, 2025, and referred to Education; subsequent steps would typically include committee hearings, potential amendments, votes, and, if advanced, floor consideration in the chamber and, eventually, the other legislative chamber.

Related legislation

  • S 1907 (companion)
  • S 5794 (prior-session)

Potential implications to watch

  • Fiscal impact: Depending on how state aid is calculated and increased retirement benefits are funded, the bill could affect state costs and local district budgets.
  • Policy considerations: Elevating SRO compensation and retirement benefits may influence recruitment and retention of SROs and the extent of police presence in schools.
  • Implementation details: How “aidable” salaries and retirement increases would be administered, verified, and audited will shape practical outcomes if the bill passes.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a specific jurisdiction (e.g., New York State Assembly) or add a brief comparison with the related Senate bills S 1907 and S 5794.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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