In his State of the State address on January 6, 1999, Governor George E. Pataki announced the creation of a Task Force on School Violence. Lt. Governor Mary O. Donohue was appointed to chair the Task Force.
The Lt. Governor gathered together a broad representation of qualified individuals from across the state, including students, parents, teachers, school administrators, law enforcement experts, business leaders, mental health professionals and local elected officials. The goal was to bring the best methods of improving school safety to every school to ensure that students are focused on meeting the high academic standards rather than on personal safety.
On July 24, 2000, Governor George E. Pataki signed into law the most comprehensive legislative plan in the nation, entitled Project SAVE (Safe Schools Against Violence in Education), to promote a safer and more effective learning environment within New York State's schools.