New York Consolidated Laws, Education Law - EDN § 807. Fire and emergency drills

1. It shall be the duty of the principal or other person in charge of every public or private school or educational institution within the state, other than colleges or universities, to instruct and train the pupils by means of drills, so that they may in a sudden emergency be able to respond appropriately in the shortest possible time and without confusion or panic. Such drills shall be held at least twelve times in each school year, eight of which required drills shall be held between September first and December thirty-first of each such year. Eight of all such drills shall be evacuation drills, four of which shall be through use of the fire escapes on buildings where fire escapes are provided or through the use of identified secondary means of egress. Four of all such required drills shall be lock-down drills. Drills shall be conducted at different times of the school day. Pupils shall be instructed in the procedure to be followed in the event that a fire occurs during the lunch period or assembly, provided however, that such additional instruction may be waived where a drill is held during the regular school lunch period or assembly. Four additional drills shall be held in each school year during the hours after sunset and before sunrise in school buildings in which students are provided with sleeping accommodations. At least two additional drills shall be held during summer school in buildings where summer school is conducted, and one of such drills shall be held during the first week of summer school.

1-a. In the case of after-school programs, events or performances which are conducted within a school building and which include persons who do not regularly attend classes in such school building, the principal or other person in charge of the building shall require the teacher or person in charge of such after-school program, event or performance to notify persons in attendance at the beginning of each such program, event or performance, of the procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency so that they may be able to respond in a timely, orderly manner.

2. It shall be the duty of the board of education or school board or other body having control of the schools in any district or city to cause a copy of this section to be printed in the manual or handbook prepared for the guidance of teachers, where such manual or handbook is in use or may hereafter come into use.

3. It shall be the duty of the person in charge of every public or private college or university within the state, to instruct and train the students by means of drills, so that they may in a sudden emergency be able to leave the college or university building in the shortest possible time and without confusion or panic. Such drills shall be held at least three times in each year, one of which required drills shall be held between September first and December first of each such year. In buildings where summer sessions are conducted, one of such required drills shall be held during the first week of such summer session. At least one of such required drills shall be through use of the fire escapes on buildings where fire escapes are provided. At least one additional drill shall be held in each year during the hours after sunset and before sunrise in college or university buildings in which students are provided with sleeping accommodations.

4. Neglect by any principal or other person in charge of any public or private school or educational institution to comply with the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor punishable at the discretion of the court by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars; such fine to be paid to the pension fund of the local fire department where there is such a fund.