Mayor Bill de Blasio signs law for school door alarms after death of Avonte Oquendo

Months after the death of an autistic teenager, legislation in his name has officially become law. Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Avonte's Law, which requires all elementary schools and schools with

News 12 Staff

Aug 8, 2014, 4:48 PM

Updated 3,640 days ago

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Months after the death of an autistic teenager, legislation in his name has officially become law.
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Avonte's Law, which requires all elementary schools and schools with special needs programs to evaluate the need for door alarms. If a child is able to open any door at the facility, then an alarm must be installed. 
The bill was proposed after 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo ran out of his Queens school in the middle of the day and disappeared last October. His body was found along the East River months later. 
The Department of Education now has until May 30 of next year to evaluate all schools. It must then submit a report to the City Council listing every school that needs door alarms and a timeline for installation. 


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