Establishes the education mandate relief act of 2010

3 Co-sponsors

• Brian X. Foley
• Craig M. Johnson
• Antoine M. Thompson

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law and the general municipal law, in relation to enacting the education mandate relief act of 2010; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon the expiration thereof

Purpose

To relieve school districts of burdensome mandates, establish various efficiencies in their operations with a goal of reducing costs.

Summary of provisions

Section one of the bill establishes its short title, the Education Mandate Relief Act of 2010.

Section 2 of the bill amends the Education Law, in relation to the effect of mandates on school districts.

Section 3 of the bill amends the Education Law in relation to contracts for transportation services.

Section 4 of the bill repeals paragraph f of subdivision (2-a) of section 1950 of education law in relation to a vacancy in the membership of a board of cooperative educational services.

Section 5 of the bill amends the education law in relation to authorizing boards of cooperative education services in cooperation with the district superintendent to study consolidation and shared services.

Section 6 of the bill amends the education law in relation to adding auditing and internal auditing to the list of BOCES services eligible for state aid reimbursement.

Section 7 of the bill amends the education law in relation to the calculation of contingency budget percentage increases in total spending over a district's total spending under the school district budget for the prior school year; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.

Section 8 of the bill amends the general municipal law in relation to authorizing school districts and boards of cooperative educational services to establish retirement contribution reserve funds for the purposes of the New York state teachers' retirement system

Section 9 of the bill relates to the effective date

Justification

Providing school children with a quality education remains one of the legislature's top priorities. However, current fiscal challenges threaten our ability to sustain the progress that is being made in our classrooms. The provisions of this bill will empower local school districts to increase their efficiency and reduce or control operational costs so that precious resources can be targeted to instructional programs and reduce property taxes.

Legislative history

New Bill

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

Immediately.