Directs the commissioner of education to establish minimum standards for the maintenance and repair of school buildings

BILL NUMBER:S6596

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commissioner of education to establish standards for the maintenance and repair of school buildings and exempting expenditures for the maintenance and repair of school buildings from the tax levy limit

Purpose of the bill

The purpose of this bill is to direct the commissioner of education to establish minimum standards for the maintenance and repair of school buildings so as to provide an appropriate and safe learning environment within each such building. The bill would also exempt expenditures by the school districts in order to meet the standards established by the commissioner from the tax levy limit.

Summary of the provisions of the bill

Section 1 amends section 305 of the education law by adding a new subdivision 43 that directs the commissioner of education to establish minimum standards for the maintenance and repair of school buildings so as to provide an appropriate learning environment.

Subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) of paragraph I of subdivision 2 of section 2023a of the education law, as added by section 2 of part A of chapter 97 of the laws of 2011, are amended and a new paragraph (v) is added to read as follows: a tax levy necessary for expenditures for the maintenance and repair of school buildings.

Statement in support of the bill

The school districts of the state continue to struggle with budgetary issues caused by the overall economy and the 2% property tax cap enacted in 2011. This bill seeks to establish minimum standards the maintenance and repair of school buildings so as to provide an appropriate and safe learning environment for the students and teachers in the state. The bill also exempts such costs accrued by the school districts in order to meet the new standards from the 2% property tax cap.

Budgetary implications of the bill

This bill will not impose any additional costs on the state.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Effective date

The bill would take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law, provided that, effective immediately, any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be promulgated, amended and/or repealed on or before such date; and provided further that the amendments to section 2023-a of the education law made by section two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed.