What's happening
This bill shortens the waiting period to reconvene a meeting on consolidating school districts from one year to sixty days.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Faster School Merger Votes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Shorten School Vote Waiting Period
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Anthony Brindisi
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2301
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- 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 proceedings at meetings to consolidate school districts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 1512 of the education law, as amended by chapter 461 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
1. Such meeting shall be organized as provided in section fifteen hundred twenty-three of this article. Such meeting may adopt a resolution to consolidate such districts if two-thirds of the qualified electors of each district having less than fifteen of such electors are present, or in case of districts having fifteen or more qualified electors if ten or more are present. The vote upon such resolution shall be by ballot or by taking and recording the ayes and noes. If the vote shall be by taking and recording the ayes and noes, the clerk and such assistants as may be provided for him or her by the meeting shall keep a poll-list upon which shall be recorded the names of all qualified electors voting upon the resolution, the districts in which such electors reside, and how each elector voted. If the vote shall be by ballot, one or more inspectors of election shall be appointed in such manner as the meeting shall determine, who shall receive the votes cast, canvass the same and announce the result of the ballot to the chairman. If the vote shall be by ballot then voting machines may be used in the manner prescribed by section two thousand thirty-five of this chapter and provision shall be made for absentee ballots as provided in section two thousand eighteen-a or two thousand eighteen-b of this chapter. If it shall appear that a majority of the qualified electors present and voting from each district are in favor of such resolution, it shall be declared adopted and where at least one of the districts consolidated is
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05639-01-7
S. 2301 2
a union free school district it shall be lawful for such meeting thereafter to proceed to the election of a board of education as provided in sections seventeen hundred two and seventeen hundred four of this chapter. If a majority of the qualified electors present and voting from each district are not in favor of such resolution, all further proceedings at such meeting, except a motion to reconsider or adjourn, shall be dispensed with and no such meeting shall be again called within [one year thereafter] sixty days of such vote.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 proceedings at meetings to consolidate school districts
Purpose
This bill would allow a re-vote on a school consolidation within 6o days of the original vote.
Summary of provisions
Amends subdivision 1 of section 1512 of the education law to allow a re-vote on school consolidation within 6o days of original vote.
Existing law
Current law does not allow a re-vote to take place prior to one year.
Justification
A study found that districts with less than 1,500 students (which makes up about half of the school districts in New York State) are likely to cut per-pupil costs significantly by consolidating. In today's economy, school districts need to look at all options. The possible savings coupled with potential academic benefits warrant consolidation being encouraged in the state.
Legislative history
2015-16 - S. 4464/A. 2360 - Education Committee. 2013-14 - S. 3907 Passed Senate - A. 2735 - Education Committee.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediate.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.