What's happening
This bill directs the education department to study and report on the accuracy of regional cost index values for Hudson Valley counties in the school aid formula, including possibly reclassifying Westchester County.
Why it matters
Potential Redistribution of School Aid. The study could lead to changes in how state funding is allocated to Hudson Valley school districts, especially if Westchester County is reclassified into a different labor market region, altering its regional cost index and potentially its share of state aid.
Reflects Modern Labor Market Trends. By re-examining which counties belong in certain labor market regions, the bill acknowledges that economic and wage patterns may have shifted since the original classification—ensuring that state aid formulas better match current realities.
Impact on Local Taxes and School Budgets. Updates to the regional cost index might affect how much local taxpayers need to contribute versus what schools receive from the state, influencing school budgets, programming, and possibly property taxes.
Focus on Construction and Building Aid. The bill specifically includes a review of construction costs and how updated cost indexes might affect state reimbursement for school building projects, potentially impacting the affordability and planning of school facility upgrades or expansions.
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
Study Westchester's School Aid Region
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 40
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1665
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to education
- Print number 6310a
- 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.
Study Westchester School Funding
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6310--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MURPHY -- 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
AN ACT to direct the education department to study, review and report on the geographic cost variation of counties in the Hudson Valley labor force region to determine the appropriateness of the region cost index values for purposes of the public school foundation aid formula
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds that the introduction of the regional cost index into the state public school aid formula provided a regional approach to recognizing the difference in labor market costs. In a June 7, 2006 report to the board of regents subcommittee on state aid, state education department staff noted in the combination of the city of New York and Long Island that there was "evidence that these two areas actually function as a single labor market region. With professionals, especially those in the education professions, moving to jobs across the lines between New York city and Long Island, it is necessary to consider this entire region as a single area, with similar wage costs". At this same time, the education department decided to keep the county of Westchester within the Hudson Valley for the regional cost index calculation. In 2016, this state enacted a new law to increase the minimum wage across the state. This legislation included the county of Westchester along with the counties of Nassau and Suffolk, in phasing in such wage increases, setting a new precedent that should be considered by the education department with regard to which labor market the county of Westchester should be included in.
§ 2. The education department shall, in consultation with the department of labor, study and review the geographic cost variations of the counties located in the Hudson Valley labor force region to determine
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11473-02-7
S. 6310--A 2
the appropriateness of the regional cost index values used within the public school foundation aid formula, as well as county placement in the Hudson Valley region. Specifically, the education department shall consider the movement of the county of Westchester currently within the Hudson Valley region into the Long Island/New York city region. Such department shall consult with the department of labor to review labor costs for the Hudson Valley region and the Long Island/New York city region.
The education department shall also review the regional costs associated with construction and study the impact on applying an up to date cost index on public school building aid reimbursement.
§ 3. The education department shall, on or before April 1, 2019, report the findings, conclusions and recommendations of such study to the governor, temporary president of the senate and speaker of the assembly.
§ 4. 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 direct the education department to study, review and report on the geographic cost variation of counties in the Hudson Valley labor force region to determine the appropriateness of the region cost index values for purposes of the public school foundation aid formula
Purpose
This bill directs the education department to study, review and report on the placement of the county of Westchester in the Hudson Valley region for purposes of public school foundation aid.
Summary of provisions
Section one establishes the Legislative intent.
Section two states that the education department, in consultation with the labor department, shall study and review the geographic cost vari- ation within the counties in the Hudson Valley labor force region for the purposes of determining the appropriateness of the index values used within the school aid formula and the placement of counties in the Hudson Valley region. In addition, the education department, along with the labor department, shall consider and evaluate the feasibility and advisability of Westchester county being aligned with the Long Island/New York City region. This section also requires a review of the regional costs associated with construction and requires the study of applying an up to date cost index on public school building aid reimbursement.
Section three states that the education department shall report its findings to the governor and the legislature by April 1, 2019.
Section four establishes the effective date.
Justification
The introduction of the regional cost index into the state public school aid formula provided a regional approach to recognizing the difference in labor market costs. In a June 7, 2006 report to the board of regents subcommittee on state aid, State Education Department staff noted in the combination of the city of New York and Long Island that there was "evidence that these two areas actually function as a single labor market region. With professionals, especially those in the education professions, moving to jobs across the lines between New York City and Long Island, it is necessary to consider this entire region as a single area, with similar wage costs". At this same time, the State Education Department decided to keep the county of Westchester within the Hudson Valley for the regional cost index calculation. In 2016, the state enacted a new law to increase the minimum wage across the state. This legislation included the county of Westchester along with the counties of Nassau and Suffolk, in phasing in such wage increases, setting a new precedent that should be considered by the education department with regard to which labor market the county of Westchester should be included in.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None noted.
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.