What's happening
This bill allows school districts in New York to pay for school crossing guards if doing so increases the number of guards.
Why it matters
Allows school districts to financially support local police departments for crossing guard salaries, but only if this leads to hiring more guards than would otherwise be employed. this could improve student safety by leveraging school funds to address local needs.
Ensures crossing guards paid under such agreements remain employees of the police or municipal authority, not the school district. , which impacts liability, training, and labor relations.
Provides school districts with a new tool to influence and expand safety measures around their schools. , especially in areas where municipal budgets might not prioritize or afford enough crossing guards.
Potentially shifts the balance of responsibility and funding for student pedestrian safety from solely local governments to a shared model with school districts. , which may set a precedent for future school-municipal collaborations.
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Who cares
School district boards of education and trustees
They could agree to pay all or part of crossing guards’ salaries, but only if the agreement increases the number of guards employed by the municipal or police authority.
Cities, towns, villages, county police departments and police districts
They could receive school district funding for crossing guard salaries under agreements that expand their crossing guard staffing.
School crossing guards
Guards whose salaries are funded through these agreements would not be considered school district employees.
Schoolchildren
Students in participating districts could receive services from additional crossing guards who help protect them going to and from school.
Headline styles
Schools Can Pay Crossing Guards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 45
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A2954B
- Amended on third reading 367b
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.387
- Referred to local government
Show 16 earlier actions
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to ways and means
- Returned to assembly
- Repassed senate
- Amended on third reading 367a
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.328
- Referred to local government
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.
Schools Can Pay Crossing Guards
Signed by Governor · Sponsor John T. McDonald III
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
367--B Cal. No. 387
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government -reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and… Show allHide
Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government -reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading -- recommitted to the Committee on Local Government in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to authorizing educational institutions to pay the salaries and compensation of school crossing guards
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 208-a of the general municipal law, as amended by chapter 131 of the laws of 1967, is amended to read as follows:
§ 208-a. School guards. The duly constituted authorities of any city, town, or village or any county police department or police district may designate, authorize and appoint such a number of persons as such authority shall deem necessary, and at such salaries as such authority shall deem advisable, as school crossing guards to aid in protecting school children going to and from school, and church crossing guards to aid in protecting persons going to and from places of worship, and for such purpose shall have power to control vehicular traffic within such municipality. A board of education or trustees of a school district may enter into an agreement with any city, town, village or county police department or police district whereby such school district pays for all
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00303-05-8
S. 367--B 2
or any portion of the salaries of the school crossing guards providing services pursuant to this section to the students of such district. Notwithstanding any agreement entered into pursuant to this section, school crossing guards shall not be considered employees of the school district. The authority of a board of education or trustees of a school district to enter into such agreement shall only exist when such agreement results in an increase to the number of school crossing guards employed by the city, town, village, county police department or police district.
§ 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 general municipal law, in relation to authorizing educational institutions to pay the salaries and compensation of school crossing guards
Purpose
This legislation removes the current legislative barrier that prohibits school districts, BOCES, charter schools, and other public schools from contributing to the salaries of school crossing guards.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends 208-a of the General Municipal Law, as amended by Chapter 131 of the laws of 1967 to provide that a board of education or trustees of a school district on behalf of school districts, BOCES, charter schools, and any other public or private education institution may enter into an agreement pay for part or all of school crossing guards' salaries. The authority of a board of education or trustees of a school district to enter into such agreement shall only exist when such agreement results in an increase to the number of school crossing guards employed by the city, town, village, county police department or police district. Currently, school districts, BOCES, char- ter schools, and other public educational institutions are prohibited from contributing, in whole or in part, to the salary of school crossing guards. In an era when inter-municipal cooperation is critical to improving the quality of services provided by local governments while at the same time decreasing the cost of providing these services, it is imperative that any obstacle to such cooperation be removed.
Section 2 of the bill contains the effective date.
Existing law
Section 208-a of the General Municipal Law authorizes municipalities to appoint and fix the salaries of school crossing guards.
Justification
The need for school crossing guards is directly related to school oper- ations. However, the financial burden of providing school crossing guards is placed not on the schools themselves, but on the host munici- pality. Moreover, schools are specifically prohibited from employing or even contributing school crossing guards (see State Comptroller Opinions 81-31 and 69-793). This agreement shall only exist when it results in an increase to the number of school crossing guards employed by the city, town, village, county police department or police district.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.1533 Passed Senate; A.9953 Referred to Education 2012: S.6398 2008: S.5110/A.9381 Veto 111
Fiscal implications
None to the State. However, this legislation will allow municipalities to share the costs with the school district utilizing the service.
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.