What's happening
This bill requires New York schools to create policies for extreme heat, prohibiting occupancy above 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why it matters
Addresses growing health concerns from climate change. By requiring schools to act when indoor temperatures reach 82°F and prohibiting occupancy above 88°F, the bill prioritizes the well-being of students and staff as heat waves become more frequent and severe.
Mandates proactive planning and resource allocation. Schools will need to develop formal policies for extreme heat, which may involve investing in cooling solutions, altering schedules, or finding safe temporary accommodations—potentially impacting budgets and operations.
Standardizes safety responses across districts. The bill sets clear, statewide criteria for when action must be taken, reducing disparities between schools and ensuring all children, regardless of location, are protected from dangerous heat conditions.
Could disrupt instruction and services. Enforcing a hard temperature cap may mean class cancellations, relocations, or altered routines on hot days, affecting learning continuity, family schedules, and access to school-based services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit School Building Temperatures
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 6351a
- Amend and recommit to education
- 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.
Set School Temperature Limits
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor James Skoufis
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6351--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PERALTA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- 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 establishing a maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facilities
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. Maximum temperatures in school buildings and facilities. All common, union free, central, central high schools, city school districts and boards of cooperative educational services shall develop a policy for ensuring the health and safety of students and faculty on extreme heat condition days. For the purpose of this section, extreme heat condition days shall be defined as days when the occupiable educational and support services spaces are found to be eighty-two degrees or greater Fahrenheit. For the purpose of this section, room temperature shall be measured at a shaded location, three feet above the floor near the center of the room. Schools shall be required to take action to relieve heat related discomfort when the occupied space temperature reaches eighty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Educational and support services spaces cannot be occupied if room temperature reaches eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11353-05-8
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 establishing a maximum temperature in school buildings and indoor facil- ities
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill requires that all school facilities establish a maximum temperature to ensure the health, safety of students, faculty and staff.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Creates maximum temperatures in school buildings and facili- ties, and requires that above said temperature, school buildings and facilities must then be vacated. For the purpose of this section, room temperature shall be measured at a shaded location, three feet above the floor near the center of the room.
Justification
There are currently no statutory limits on maximum temperatures in school buildings and indoor facilities throughout New York State to ensure that excessive temperatures do not create health and safety risks to students, faculty members and school employees. Studies show that student participation and attentiveness starts to wane at the temper- ature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. This legislation stipulates that when a school facility or classroom reaches 82 degrees, schools shall be required to take steps to relieve the extreme heat condition using what- ever resources are available to the district. At a maximum temperature of 88 degrees, said school facilities or classrooms are prohibited from being occupied.
Prior legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.