Relates to budgets of boards of cooperative educational services

BILL NUMBER:S5135

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to budgets of boards of cooperative educational services

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill amends Sections 1950 and 1951 of the Education Law to allow the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department to promulgate rules and regulations that would authorize BOCES to operate a multi-year budget for program, capital and/or administrative expenditures provided the Commissioner determines this would result in greater efficiencies to the component district(s)

Justification

BOCES were created by the Legislature in 1948 "for the purpose of carrying out a program of shared educational services in the schools for the supervisory district..." Since their creation, BOCES have served as an important vehicle for helping school districts operate in an effective and efficient manner. As districts around the State face significant fiscal and educational constraints, it is imperative that BOCES be given greater authority to help the many component districts they serve while reducing or eliminating the impediments that make this goal difficult.

Currently BOCES can only operate based on an annual budget which can create uncertainty and inefficiencies. This bill would allow BOCES, based on the approval of the Commissioner, to implement a multi-year budget when this would result in greater efficiencies for the component district. Because districts can decide if a multi-year budgeting process is in their best interest, this expanded authority maintains the district discretion that has been and would continue to be the cornerstone of the BOCES operating structure.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

This bill would be fiscally neutral.

Effective date

This bill would take effect on the next July following enactment.