S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  9342

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             April 16, 2014
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. NOLAN, BENEDETTO, CLARK, COLTON, COOK, DINOWITZ,
  JAFFEE, LIFTON, MAGNARELLI, MARKEY, MILLMAN, O'DONNELL,  OTIS,  ROBIN-
  SON,  ROSA,  ROSENTHAL  --  Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BRAUNSTEIN,
  CAMARA, GLICK, HIKIND, MOSLEY, SCHIMEL -- read once  and  referred  to
  the Committee on Education

AN  ACT  to  amend the education law, in relation to safety requirements
  for school science laboratories and teacher training about  laboratory
  safety

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section  409-l
to read as follows:
  S  409-L.  SCHOOL SCIENCE LABORATORIES. THE PRINCIPAL OR ADMINISTRATOR
OF ANY SCHOOL BUILDING WITH A SCIENCE LABORATORY SHALL REPORT TO HIS  OR
HER SCHOOL DISTRICT BY SEPTEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR THAT:
  1.  THE  SCHOOL BUILDING CLASSROOMS USED FOR LABORATORY DEMONSTRATIONS
AND INSTRUCTION MEET FIRE AND SAFETY CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR  SUCH  ACTIV-
ITIES;
  2.  THE  SCHOOL  HAS  THE  EQUIPMENT TO ASSURE THE SAFETY OF PROPERTY,
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DURING ANY LABORATORY DEMONSTRATIONS AND  INSTRUC-
TION;
  3. THE TEACHERS AND ANY TEACHING ASSISTANTS USING SCHOOL SCIENCE LABO-
RATORIES  ARE  PROPERLY  TRAINED  AND UP TO DATE WITH SAFETY TRAINING AS
REQUIRED BY SECTION THREE THOUSAND FOUR OF THIS CHAPTER; AND
  4. ALL SCIENCE CLASSES WITH LABORATORY  DEMONSTRATION  OR  INSTRUCTION
SHALL  INCLUDE  CLASS TIME FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT LABORATORY SAFETY
BEFORE ANY SUCH DEMONSTRATION OR INSTRUCTION IS UNDERTAKEN.
  S 2. Section 3004 of the education law is amended by  adding  two  new
subdivisions 7 and 8 to read as follows:
  7.  A. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE REGULATIONS REQUIRING THAT ALL
PERSONS APPLYING ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER SECOND, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN  FOR
A  TEACHING  CERTIFICATE OR LICENSE AS A SCIENCE TEACHER SHALL, IN ADDI-
TION TO ALL THE OTHER  CERTIFICATION  OR  LICENSING  REQUIREMENTS,  HAVE
COMPLETED ENHANCED COURSE WORK OR TRAINING IN SCIENCE LABORATORY SAFETY.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD14682-02-4

A. 9342                             2

THE  ENHANCED COURSE WORK OR TRAINING SHALL BE OBTAINED FROM AN INSTITU-
TION OR PROVIDER WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE  DEPARTMENT  TO  PROVIDE
SUCH COURSE WORK OR TRAINING IN THE NEEDS OF SCIENCE LABORATORY SAFETY.
  B.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  ASSURE  THAT  TEACHER PREPARATION INSTI-
TUTIONS, IN THE TWO THOUSAND  FOURTEEN--TWO  THOUSAND  FIFTEEN  ACADEMIC
YEAR,  INCLUDE  INSTRUCTION IN SCIENCE LABORATORY SAFETY IN ALL PROGRAMS
LEADING TO CERTIFICATION AS A SCIENCE TEACHER.
  8. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF  LAW,  THE  COMMISSIONER  IS
AUTHORIZED  AND  EMPOWERED  TO  CERTIFY OR REQUIRE TRAINING OF TEACHERS,
ADMINISTRATORS AND INSTRUCTORS IN THE AREA  OF  LABORATORY  SAFETY.  THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO PRESCRIBE THE NECESSARY REGULATIONS
AND  ESTABLISH  SUCH PROGRAMS AND TRAINING RELATED TO LABORATORY SAFETY.
SUCH PROGRAMS AND TRAINING SHALL BE  OBTAINED  FROM  AN  INSTITUTION  OR
PROVIDER  WHICH  HAS  BEEN  APPROVED  BY  THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE SUCH
PROGRAMS AND TRAINING, EXCEPT THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR BOARD OF COOPER-
ATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES MAY PROVIDE SUCH  TRAINING  AS  PART  OF  ITS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.