Provides mandate relief to local school districts

BILL NUMBER:S6304

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing mandate relief to local school districts

Purpose

This bill provides New York school districts with mandate relief.

Summary of provisions

Section 1. This section amends the education law to require that school districts must provide suitable transportation up to twenty-five miles to and from a nonpublic school for which a child with a handicap attends or fifty miles from a nonpublic school for school districts located entirely or partially in any county with less than two hundred thousand population or any town which has a population of less than one hundred fifty persons per square miles.

Justification

This bill seeks to provide real mandate relief to school districts. New York school districts already face an enormous financial burden, especially in light of the recent school aid cuts. By reducing the amount of miles a school district must transport a student will reduce transportation costs for many school districts. However, to ensure that students that reside in more rural areas where services may not be within a twenty-five mile radius the sponsor kept the fifty mile requirement for these districts in order to ensure that students will have access to services. This bill will hopefully, be a first step, in providing much needed mandate relief to school districts.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

Needs to be determined.

Effective date

The act takes effect immediately.