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Who cares
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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4959
Title of bill
An act to amend the tax law, in relation to certain unclaimed and abandoned prize money; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the kindergarten reserve fund
Purpose
To require that unclaimed and abandoned lottery prize money be transferred to the "kindergarten reserve fund" for the purposes of funding kindergarten programs in the state.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision a of section 1614 of the tax law to require that unclaimed or abandoned lottery prize money be transferred to the "kindergarten reserve fund" and distributed to elementary schools to provide funds for kindergarten programs.
Section 2 adds a new section 99-V to the state finance law to establish the kindergarten reserve fund, which shall consist of all unclaimed and abandoned lottery prize money, and all other moneys credited or transferred thereto from any other fund or source. Such funds, following appropriation by the Legislature, shall be made available to the State Education Department for the purposes of funding kindergarten programs.
Section 3 provides the effective date.
Existing law
Under current law, any lottery prize money that is not claimed within one year from the date of the drawing or from the close of the game in which the prize was won is forfeited and retained in the lottery prize account to be used for payment of any special lotto or supplemental lotto prizes that may be offered, or for promotional purposes to supplement other lottery games on an occasional basis.
Justification
Numerous studies have shown that children's early learning experiences have a profound effect on their development. These early interactions directly affect the way connections are made in the brain. Early learning experiences are crucial to the future well-being of children, and establish the foundation for the acquisition of knowledge and skills that will affect later learning and behavior.
The importance of early education, and the need for all children to have access to kindergarten, has long been recognized in New York and all of the state's school districts are currently offering some form of kindergarten program. Unfortunately, with school districts facing budget cuts and other fiscal difficulties, many are considering either reducing their kindergarten instruction to half-day or eliminating kindergarten completely. This legislation will provide much needed funds to school districts to support their kindergarten programs so that every child in New York will continue to have access td the important benefits kindergarten offers.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.