What's happening
This bill requires private schools to submit certificates of occupancy and fire safety reports before receiving state funds or a BEDS code.
Why it matters
Increases accountability and transparency. for private (non-public) schools receiving public recognition or funds by requiring documentation that verifies they meet health and safety standards, including up-to-date occupancy and fire inspection reports.
Directly ties state funding and official status (BEDS code). to compliance with safety and legal standards, meaning schools that do not provide proper documentation risk losing both their eligibility for state reimbursements and their official recognition.
Applies retroactively. to all private schools with an existing BEDS code, not just new applicants, creating an immediate incentive for all currently operating non-public schools to ensure their facilities are up to code and paperwork is current.
Empowers the Commissioner of Education. to request further documentation as needed and to withhold funds or revoke school recognition for non-compliance—while also giving schools due process rights to appeal—potentially raising overall safety standards in the non-public education sector.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Private School Safety Documents
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Print number 4756b
- Amend and recommit to education
- Referred to education
- Print number 4756a
- Amend and recommit 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.
Require Private School Safety Documents
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4756--B
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 27, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring private schools to provide to the commissioner of education copies of their current certificate of occupancy and most recent fire safety report prior to receipt of apportionment funds or a Basis Educational Data System code
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 409-m to read as follows:
§ 409-m. Non-public school building requirements in relation to health and safety. 1. Prior to the issuance of a Basis Educational Data System (BEDS) code to a non-public school, the non-public school shall be required to submit to the commissioner, at minimum, valid copies of the following:
(a) a certificate of incorporation or a charter issued by the board of regents;
(b) a current certificate of occupancy and use issued by the municipality where the school buildings are located;
(c) a recent fire inspection completed by an eligible authority pursuant to subdivision three of section eight hundred seven-a of this title;
(d) a statement of the maximum capacity of the building being used for educational purposes as set by the local government; and
(e) a list of additional occupants at the same address that is a registered non-public school.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04302-04-8
S. 4756--B 2
2. Nothing in this section shall limit the commissioner's authority to require additional documentation from non-public schools as deemed necessary.
3. On or before December thirty-first, two thousand nineteen, all non-public schools that currently have a Basis Educational Data System (BEDS) code regardless of when it was first issued shall provide the valid copies of the items pursuant to subdivision one of this section to the department. A failure to provide these documents by December thirty-first, two thousand nineteen will result in reimbursements to the non-public school being withheld and if not received within ninety days, at the discretion of the commissioner, can result in a revocation of the school's Basis Educational Data System (BEDS) code, provided that the non-public school is afforded the right to be heard by the commissioner.
§ 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 requiring private schools to provide to the commissioner of education copies of their current certificate of occupancy and most recent fire safety report prior to receipt of apportionment funds or a Basis Educa- tional Data System code
Purpose
The bill will require certain documents that demonstrate the safety of school buildings prior to the issuance of a registration code that enti- tles private schools to certain apportionment and grants.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section 409-m as it relates to nonpublic school building requirements. Prior to the state education department issuing a Basic Education Data System codes (BEDS), the non-public school shall submit valid copies of a certificate of incorporation, a certificate of occupancy, a recent fire safety report, statement of maximum capacity and a list of other regis- tered nonpublic schools at the same address. All current non-public schools with a BEDS code must submit all of these documents to the state education department prior to December 31, 2019.
Section two of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
This bill requires verification that all private schools receiving a form of apportionment are operating in safe buildings.. These require- ments will provide the commissioner of education with an assurance that students are learning in a safe and code compliant building.
Legislative history
2014 - S.7292 - Education Committee /A.8621a - Ways and Means. 2015-16 - S.739a - Education Committee /A.1727a - Education Committee.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.