STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1875
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2011
___________
Introduced by Sen. ESPAILLAT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to peace/conflict resol-
ution centers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. Peace/conflict resolution centers
2 already in operation at Luperon and Heritage High Schools in Washington
3 Heights have demonstrated that mediation of disputes can reduce violence
4 in schools, reduce the number of suspensions, and promote constructive
5 conflict management. Peer mediation develops leadership skills among
6 pupils and enables them to apply those skills immediately in their
7 schools. This legislation requires every school district in the state to
8 maintain a peace/conflict resolution center.
9 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 1504-a to
10 read as follows:
11 § 1504-a. Peace/conflict resolution centers. 1. All school districts
12 are hereby required to establish and maintain a peace/conflict resol-
13 ution center.
14 2. Such peace/conflict resolution centers shall:
15 (a) provide for the supervised peer mediation of conflicts;
16 (b) develop pupil leadership skills; and
17 (c) promote peaceful atmospheres in schools and the surrounding commu-
18 nities.
19 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06301-01-1
