Relates to paperwork reduction

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill authorizes the Commissioner of Education to accept reports and all other required information electronically, except in cases where submitting electronically would be an undue hardship for a school district. It would also direct the Commissioner to prepare a report by November 1, 2010 recommending ways that reporting and planning requirements could be eliminated or consolidated, statutorily or administratively.

Section 2 of the bill would repeal Education Law §305 (32), which called for a 2002 report on the number of reports filed by school districts.

Section 3 of the bill would repeal Education Law §805, which requires the suspension of a teacher's license and the withholding of all state aid from a school district if it is found that any teacher has willfully failed to teach health education (as required by Education Law §804) until multiple investigations are conducted.

Section 4 of the bill amends Education Law §2802 (5) to require reports on school violence to be submitted by April 1 instead of January 1 and to change how the levels of violence in schools and districts are analyzed to ensure that like schools and districts are compared.

Section 5 of the bill would amend Education Law § 1950(4)(b)(5) to eliminate an outdated requirement for BOCES to separate its program, capital and administrative costs for the 1994-1995 school year budget.

Section 6 of the bill would amend Education Law § 1950 (4)(c) to continue the requirement that BOCES prepare long range program plans, including special education and career education plans, but removes the required submission to the State Department of Education. Instead the bill would require the plan to be on file and available for public inspection and review by the Commissioner. This section would eliminate the requirement that BOCES submit sections of the plan pertaining to special education and career education programs every two years provided that such plans may be incorporated into a BOCES district-wide comprehensive plan.

Section 7 of the bill would amend Education Law § 1950 (4) (kk) concerning the BOCES report card. The amendment would delete reference to including in the report card specific information included in the Regents annual report to the Governor and the Legislature pursuant to Education Law § 215-a. The Commissioner would continue to have the responsibility to provide certain information needed to ensure the accountability of BOCES pursuant to Education Law § 215-b.

Section 8 of the bill would amend Education Law § 3602 (11) (f) to eliminate the requirement that school districts and BOCES submit a plan of service and evaluation for approval of the Commissioner, in order to receive aid for Employment Preparation programs. The amendment would continue to require submission of an annual application for the payment of aid, to be approved by the Commissioner.

Section 9 of the bill would amend Education Law § 3602(8) (b) to fully eliminate the requirement that school districts submit to the Commissioner plans of service for three categorical aid programs and to replace such requirement with a requirement that the district plans of service be kept on file and available for public inspection.

Section 10 of the bill authorizes and directs the Commissioner of Education to conduct one or more pilot programs to assist interested school districts in the formation of regional transportation systems. It further directs the Commissioner of Education to report on participation in the pilot programs on each November 1 and to report on November 1, 2012 the potential for efficiencies, cost-effectiveness, and cost savings to be gained by implementing regional transportation systems, as well as barriers to implementation and recommendations for effective oversight of such systems.

Section 11 of the bill provides the effective date.

Justification

To reduce the paperwork burden on school districts, BOCES, and the State Education Department, this bill authorizes the Commissioner of Education to accept reports, plans, and other required submissions electronically. It also directs the Commissioner to determine which reporting requirements can be eliminated or consolidated, and to identify which of those changes would need to be made statutorily. It is anticipated that that report will provide a roadmap for future bills adopting the Commissioner's recommendations.

This bill starts the process of eliminating or streamlining various specific reporting requirements currently imposed by statute. It streamlines a series of reporting requirements currently imposed on BOCES, while maintaining oversight over the related programs. Now more than ever, it is important that school districts have the ability to direct resources toward their core educational missions, rather than duplicative administrative burdens.

Authorizing the study of the benefits of, and impediments to regional transportation, will allow SED to examine the long term viability and cost effectiveness of these collaborative services.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

The bill will create no additional cost to the state or school districts. It will produce savings in staff time, printing and mailing at the state and local levels for preparing and reviewing separate and, in many instances, duplicative information requirements. The exact amount of the savings is difficult to estimate as the time required to comply varies widely among school districts. It will also most likely produce savings for the districts that choose to participate in the regional transportation pilot program, as districts will likely not choose to participate unless they anticipate savings.

Effective date

The bill would take effect immediately; provided, however, that the commissioner of education shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on or before July 1, 2010; provided further that if section ten of this act shall take effect after July 1, 2010 it shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after July 1, 2010; and provided further that section ten of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed on June 30, 2015.