What's happening
This bill allows school districts to exclude expenditures for municipal school resource officers from property tax levy limits.
Why it matters
May increase local funding for school safety. By allowing school districts to exclude spending on municipal school resource officers (SROs) from property tax levy limits, districts could hire or retain SROs without worrying about exceeding state-imposed caps on property tax increases.
Could lead to higher property taxes for some residents. Since SRO-related expenses are exempt from levy limits, districts may raise additional revenue beyond the usual cap, potentially resulting in higher property taxes for local homeowners.
Clarifies the definition of "school resource officer". The bill formally defines SROs in law as police or peace officers serving as school security, ensuring clarity on which personnel qualify for the exemption.
Reflects policy priorities on school security. The change signals legislative support for prioritizing school safety expenditures, possibly encouraging more districts to collaborate with local law enforcement for in-school officer assignments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Exclude School Officer Costs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 42
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Exclude SRO Costs From Tax Cap
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1025
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BONACIC -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to excluding expenditures for school resource officers employed by a municipality and assigned to a school district from tax levy limitations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph i of subdivision 2 of section 2023-a of the education law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (v) to read as follows:
(v) a tax levy necessary for expenditures to pay for a school resource officer that is currently employed by a municipality and assigned to the school district provided that the school district is in compliance with section thirteen hundred eighteen of the real property tax law.
§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 2023-a of the education law, as added by section 2 of part A of chapter 97 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in the event the trustee, trustees or board of education of a school district that is subject to the provisions of this section proposes a budget that will require a tax levy that exceeds the tax levy limit for the corresponding school year, not including any levy necessary to support the expenditures pursuant to subparagraphs (i) through [(iv)] (v) of paragraph i of subdivision two of this section, then such budget shall be approved if sixty percent of the votes cast thereon are in the affirmative.
§ 3. Section 2 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 25 to read as follows:
25. "School resource officer" shall be defined as a police officer or peace officer who serves in a role as security personnel for a school district.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03753-01-7
S. 1025 2
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amendments made to section 2023-a of the education law by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to excluding expenditures for school resource officers employed by a municipality and assigned to a school district from tax levy limitations
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide increased flexibility to school districts within the property tax cap to utilize a municipally employed school resource officer.
Summary of specific provisions
Sections 1 and 2 of this bill amend section 2023-a of the education law by adding a provision relating to expenditures that are exempt from the school district "tax cap". The new provision exempts the portion of the tax levy necessary for expenditures to pay for a school resource officer, provided that the officer is employed by a municipality and that the school district is assigned in compliance with section 1318 of the real property tax law.
Section 3:Defines the term "School Resource Officer."
Section 4:Effective date.
Justification
Safety and security are vital necessities when it comes to our school districts. Recent events around the country have shown us that it is imperative to have adequate measures of protection at our schools, in order to ensure the safety of children, staff and any individual who steps into the school. Allowing this expenditure to be exempt from the tax cap will assist school districts in providing for increased safety and security.
While providing safety and security for various communities across the state, this legislation will also provide incentive for school districts to comply with section 1318 of the real property tax law which states that school districts must not have any operating funds in excess of four percent of the current school year budget.
Prior legislative history
S.6878 of 2016: Died in Senate Education Committee.
Fiscal implications
None to state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately provided that the amendments made to section 2023-a of the education law by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.