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A 5855

Requires New York city public school students are provided verbal and written warning of such student's right to refuse an interview and right to have a supportive adult during the interview

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chantel Jackson

Requires NYC public schools to warn students, both verbally and in writing, that they may refuse an interview and may have a supportive adult present before questioning.

PRINT NUMBER 5855A
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Bill Summary · A 5855

Summary — Assembly Bill A5855 (Print No. 5855A)

Title: Requires New York City public school students be provided a verbal and written warning of the student's right to refuse an interview and the right to have a supportive adult during the interview

Overview / Purpose

A5855 aims to ensure that students enrolled in New York City public schools are explicitly informed — both verbally and in writing — of two rights before being interviewed in a school setting: (1) the right to refuse to participate in the interview, and (2) the right to have a supportive adult present during the interview. The stated intent is to protect students’ procedural and privacy rights when they are questioned at school.

Note: The full bill text provided in the packet appears to contain unrelated or corrupted content. This summary is based on the bill title, sponsor information, and legislative actions available in the record.

Key provisions (as indicated by title)

  • Requires school personnel to provide a verbal warning to the student prior to conducting an interview, notifying the student:
    • That they may refuse to be interviewed; and
    • That they may request the presence of a supportive adult.
  • Requires a written warning to also be provided to the student documenting those same rights.
  • Applies to students in New York City public schools (i.e., NYC Department of Education schools).

Because the full enacted language is not available in the provided materials, the summary does not assume additional specifics — such as:
- who qualifies as a "supportive adult" (parent/guardian, advocate, attorney, school staff, etc.);
- which types of interviews are covered (disciplinary, investigative, law enforcement interviews, counseling, etc.);
- where and how the written notice must be recorded or retained; or
- any penalties or enforcement mechanisms for failure to provide the warnings.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Students enrolled in New York City public schools.
  • Secondary: School staff (teachers, administrators, security, social workers) who conduct or authorize interviews and will need to provide warnings and possibly accommodate supportive adults.
  • Other stakeholders: Parents/guardians, school-based advocates, the NYC Department of Education, and any outside entities (e.g., law enforcement) that conduct interviews on school premises.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Introduced: June 19, 2025
  • Print Number: 5855A (printed June 2, 2025)
  • Legislative actions: Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (6/19/2025); earlier referrals to Education Committee appear in the record (2/24/2025; 6/02/2025).
  • Sponsor: Assemblymember Chantel Jackson
  • Related/companion legislation: Senate bills S4631 and S7535

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Operational: Schools may need to update policies, create standardized verbal scripts and written forms, keep records, and provide staff training.
  • Student protection: Could strengthen procedural safeguards for minors and reduce coerced or uninformed questioning.
  • Resource implications: May require staff time for training and for accommodating supportive adults; possible scheduling/logistics issues when adults are requested.
  • Legal interplay: Interaction with existing laws on parental notification, student privacy, mandatory reporting, and law-enforcement interviews is not specified in the available materials and would need review once full text is available.

Next steps / Where to find the bill text

Because the packet included corrupted/unrelated content, consult the official New York State Assembly bill page or legislative database for A5855 (Print No. 5855A) to read the full text and any amendments, fiscal notes, or memos that clarify definitions, procedures, and enforcement. For questions or stakeholder input, contact the bill sponsor’s office (Assemblymember Chantel Jackson) or the Assembly Judiciary and Education Committees.

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

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