Relates to the transparency of the local impact of state policy-making

3 Co-sponsors

• John J. Bonacic
• Brian X. Foley
• Daniel L. Squadron

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation to increasing the transparency of the local impact of state policy-making

Purpose or general idea of bill

Amends the education law to require greater transparency and input from school districts with regard to SED regulations, and amends the state finance law require the Comptroller to prepare an annual report compiling information from fiscal notes that accompanied any bill containing a local mandate and regulatory impact statements from Education Department regulations for the preceding fiscal year.

Summary of specific provisions

Amends Education Law to require regents to prescribe a formal process by which the department seeks input from school districts in developing commissioner's regulations. (Property Tax Relief Commission recommendation 2)

Amends the State Finance Law to require the Comptroller to prepare an annual report compiling information from fiscal notes that accompanied any bill containing a local mandate and regulatory impact statements from Education Department regulations for the preceding fiscal year. (Property Tax Relief Commission recommendation 3)

Justification

As outlined in the Property Tax Relief Commission's report, the fiscal crisis we now face demands a reduction in state spending, particularly in burdensome regulations being imposed on our school districts. In addition to school districts' need to reduce spending, the State must also revise its approach to issuing regulations - particularly ones which will impose a cost on localities without providing a corresponding appropriation. This is one step in that process.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

Unknown.

Effective date

Immediately.