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History
- Print number 2736a
- Amend (t) and recommit to local government
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S2736A
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law and the education law, in relation to requiring the state to fund certain programs mandated for municipal corporations and school districts; and to amend the education law, in relation to the effect of mandates on school districts; to amend the education law, in relation to the streamlining of planning and reporting requirements for school districts and boards of cooperative educational services; to repeal subparagraph 2-a of paragraph d of subdivision 4 of section 1950 of such law relating to demonstration of cost-effectiveness of instructional and non-instructional technology acquired by component school districts through a board of cooperative educational services; to repeal paragraph d of subdivision 26-a of section 3602 of such law relating to a plan for use of instructional computer technology equipment; to repeal subdivision 13 of section 3602-e of such law relating to annual reports on universal prekindergarten programs; to repeal clause (e) of subparagraph 5 of paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 4402 of such law relating to annual reports on transition of students with disabilities; to repeal paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 4452 of such law relating to submission of a plan for the identification and education of gifted pupils; and in relation to a demonstration program in the city school district of the city of Syracuse
Purpose
This bill would require that any state mandate imposing a cost upon a school district may not be imposed after the adoption of a school budget. This provision allows school districts to plan for and incorporate a new state imposed mandate in their upcoming school budget. In addition, This legislation would require any state mandated program imposed on municipalities or school districts, which created an annual net additional cost in excess of $10,000 or an aggregate annual net additional cost in excess of $1 million to be funded by the state. Lastly, the intent of this bill is to streamline planning and reporting requirements placed on school districts and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) by reducing duplication and burdensome separate reporting systems. The bill gives the Commissioner of Education the responsibility to reduce the paperwork burden on schools, conforms state planning and reporting requirements to federal requirements, and defines the purposes of school district planning and reporting.
Read the full memo (765 words)
Summary of provisions
Section 1 Legislative intent. Section 2 amends the General Municipal Law by adding a new section 25. Section 3 amends the Education Law by adding a new section 1527-a. Section 4 amends the Education Law by adding a new section 308-a. Sections 5-21 amend provisions of law to implement the "School
Paperwork Elimination and Reduction Act of 2012." Section 22 sets forth the effective date.
Existing law
Over the last several years, the State Legislature has been particularly sensitive to school districts' concerns regarding the imposition of unfunded state mandates, however, the federal government and the State Education Department continue to impose new fiscal requirements on public schools without regard to their ability to plan fin the fiscal implications. Without adequate funding and time to plan for unforeseen costs, school districts have, at times, been forced to reduce programs, services and personnel to contend with new unfunded mandates imposed by the state.
In order to ensure that school districts and taxpayers do not have to contend with costly new mandates once a school budget has been adopted, this legislation provides schools with the time to adjust and plan for any new state mandates imposing a cost, on a school district.
State mandated programs, unlike local service decisions, place local taxpayers and local officials in the position of paying for services that they do not control. Increasingly, the state has set local priorities and forced municipal taxing decisions by mandating services, programs and standards. As a result, many local governments and school districts are today in an acutely difficult fiscal situation. Thus, in order to prevent irresponsible state actions which prevent localities from making their own decisions, and which force unwanted local property tax increases, it is necessary to ensure that state mandates will not be forced on localities and school districts, unless they are adequately funded.
To carry out this intent and reduce the paperwork burden on school districts and BOCES, the bill would eliminate or streamline various specific reporting requirements currently imposed by statute on BOCES and school districts which will allow for a greater usage of time and energy on the instruction of children.
Legislative history
2009-10: S.1476 - Referred to Local Government 2008: S.8519 - Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.