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A 2494

Establishes the school safety specialist act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Bendett and 6 co-sponsors

Establishes a School Safety Specialist Act to create and regulate a school safety specialist role with training, duties, funding, and reporting standards.

HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · A 2494

Summary: Bill A 2494 — Establishes the School Safety Specialist Act

Overview

Bill A 2494, titled the Establishes the School Safety Specialist Act, is currently classified as a bill and sits in the Education committee. Introduced on January 17, 2025, the bill’s formal text is not provided here, but the title indicates an effort to create and implement a framework around school safety specialists.

Status and Procedural Timeline

  • 2025-01-17: Referred to Education
  • 2025-05-20: Held for Consideration in Education
  • 2025-05-20: Held for Consideration in Education (duplication in record)
  • Overall status: HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN EDUCATION, meaning the committee has considered the bill but not yet reported it out for a floor vote.

Sponsors

  • Primary: Scott H. Bendett
  • Cosponsors: Robert Smullen, Joe DeStefano, Karl Brabenec, Al Taylor, Keith Brown, Stephen Hawley

Related Legislation

  • A 8264 (prior-session)
  • S 5378 (companion) — appears in Senate as a companion bill

What the Bill Would Do (Based on Title and Available Information)

  • The bill would establish a legal framework known as the "School Safety Specialist Act."
  • While the exact provisions are not provided in the summary, such acts typically aim to:
    • Create or designate a school safety specialist position or program within schools or the state education system.
    • Define duties and responsibilities related to enhancing school safety, threat assessment, incident response, and prevention planning.
    • Establish qualifications, training requirements, and professional standards for school safety specialists.
    • Outline implementation timelines, responsibilities of school districts or institutions, and coordination with local law enforcement or safety agencies.
    • Include reporting requirements, data collection, and potential accountability measures.
    • Identify funding mechanisms or sources (state appropriations, grants, or budgetary provisions) to support the act.

Note: Specific duties, qualifications, funding levels, reporting requirements, and implementation timelines would be found in the body of the bill text.

Potential Impact and Stakeholders

  • Affected Parties:
    • Schools and school districts: possible creation/designation of school safety specialist roles, with associated duties and training.
    • Students and staff: potential improvements in safety planning, threat assessment, and emergency response.
    • State Department of Education and local safety officials: increased coordination, reporting, and compliance responsibilities.
  • Potential Costs: Depending on the bill’s funding provisions, there could be state appropriations or grants to support salaries, training, and program administration.
  • Implementation Considerations: If enacted, districts would need to align with new standards, timelines, and reporting mandates; coordination with law enforcement and emergency management may be required.

Next Steps for Interested Readers

  • Review the full text of A 2494 to understand the precise provisions, duties of the safety specialist, eligibility criteria, funding details, and timelines.
  • Check fiscal notes and committee reports for cost estimates and implementation considerations.
  • Monitor related bills (A 8264, S 5378) for parallel provisions or differences between the Assembly and Senate versions.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the exact text or fiscal notes once they’re available to provide a more detailed, provision-by-provision summary.

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

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