A Western New York State Senator has drafted legislation he hopes will encourage school districts across the state to invest in security upgrades.

George Maziarz is sponsoring a bill that would exempt the money schools spend on security from being calculated in the state's two-percent property tax cap.

The cap was signed into law in 2011 to limit the level of rising property taxes in Upstate New York. Property taxes are a main source of revenue for districts so the cap can also limit an important revenue stream.

There are some expenses that are exempt to the cap like employee pension and health insurance costs.

In the wake of the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, Maziarz says security costs should be added to that list.

"Everyone wants to make sure that the children that are in school are in a safe atmosphere, and I don't think there will be any opposition to that," said Maziarz, (R).

Maziarz hopes the bill will spur new investments in school resource officers, more advanced door locks, and security cameras.

The bill was sent to the Senate's Education Committee. Maziarz expects it to clear committee sometime in March and be passed by the full Senate in April.