What's happening
This bill requires all public and private schools in New York City to close when the governor declares a weather-related state of emergency.
Why it matters
Ensures student and staff safety by mandating school closures during severe weather emergencies. , removing discretion from individual schools or districts and standardizing the response citywide.
Applies equally to both public and private elementary and secondary schools. in New York City, meaning all families and educational institutions are affected, regardless of school type.
Transfers authority for school closure decisions during major weather events directly to the governor. , potentially speeding up the process and clarifying communication during emergencies.
Could create significant logistical and childcare challenges for families and employers. when such emergencies are declared, as closures would be automatic and potentially on short notice.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Close Schools for Weather Emergencies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6290
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring elementary and secondary schools to close in the event the governor declares a state of emergency related to the weather in any city having a population of one million or more
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 27-a to read as follows:
§ 27-a. Weather related state of emergency. Whenever the governor, on his or her own initiative or pursuant to a request from the mayor of a city having a population of one million or more, finds that a state of emergency exists because of the imminent or existing weather conditions in a city having a population of one million or more, he or she shall declare a weather related state of emergency by executive order. Upon such a declaration all public and private elementary and secondary schools in such city shall be closed and remain closed until such state of emergency is terminated.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02400-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Purpose
Provides that when the governor declares a state of emergency in a city having a population of one million or more, all public and private elementary and secondary schools shall be closed.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 states that the executive law is amended by adding a new section 27-a.
Justification
Upon declaration of a state of emergency in a city populated with one million or more in New York State, all elementary and secondary schools are to be closed down for the sake of all students and staff traveling to and from such schools. A lot of students utilize public transporta- tion to get to and from school and in a state of emergency there is reduced schedule of busses and trains. In addition, in a weather state of emergency it is usually advised to stay off the roads for safety and it is unsafe to require staff to drive and students to be subject to dangerous conditions.
Legislative history
2017: S.6290 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs 2016: S.3352 - Passed Senate 2015: S.3352 - Passed Senate 2014: S.6523 - Passed Senate / A.9266 Referred to Education
Fiscal implications
None.
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.