What's happening
This bill allows school districts to exceed tax levy limits for expenditures related to safety and security measures.
Why it matters
Expands School Funding Flexibility for Safety. By allowing school districts to exceed tax levy limits for safety and security measures, the bill empowers districts to prioritize student and staff protection—even if it requires raising more local revenue than typically permitted.
Covers a Broad Range of Security Expenditures. The new language specifically includes security personnel, safety training, infrastructure improvements (like secure entrances or surveillance systems), and safety equipment, reflecting a comprehensive approach to school safety.
Responds to Growing Concerns About School Violence. By referencing “serious violent incidents or similar emergencies,” the bill addresses heightened concerns about threats to school safety, enabling districts to act proactively rather than reactively.
May Affect Local Taxpayers and School Budgets. While aiming to improve safety, the measure could lead to higher local property taxes in districts that opt to use this exemption, potentially impacting community debates over school budgets and taxpayer burdens.
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Who cares
School boards and district administrators
The bill would exempt levies for qualifying school safety expenditures from the tax levy limit, allowing those costs outside the cap without triggering the 60 percent budget approval requirement.
School district property taxpayers
Districts could levy taxes above the cap to fund qualifying safety measures, including security personnel, training, infrastructure improvements and equipment.
School security personnel and safety equipment providers
The exemption would cover levies supporting security staffing and purchases of security devices or other safety equipment.
Students, parents and school staff
The bill would give districts additional taxing flexibility to fund protection against serious violent incidents or similar emergencies.
Headline styles
School Safety Spending Exemption
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
10 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- 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.
Allow Safety Spending Exemption
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Rich Funke
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1836
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, JAFFEE, BUCHWALD, OTIS, STIRPE, BARRETT, BRONSON, HAWLEY, RAIA, MONTESANO, CROUCH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to tax levy limits of school districts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) of paragraph i of subdivision 2 of section 2023-a of the education law are renumbered subparagraphs (iv) and (v) and a new subparagraph (iii) is added to read as follows:
(iii) a tax levy necessary for expenditures to ensure adequate safety and protection from a serious violent incident or similar emergency, as such terms are defined in Part 155.17 of the regulations promulgated by the commissioner, which may include, but are not limited to, expenditures for security personnel, safety training or instruction, infrastructure improvements to improve safety and security, and the acquisition of security devices or other safety equipment;
§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 2023-a of the education law, as added by section 2 of part A of chapter 97 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in the event the trustee, trustees or board of education of a school district that is subject to the provisions of this section proposes a budget that will require a tax levy that exceeds the tax levy limit for the corresponding school year, not including any levy necessary to support the expenditures pursuant to subparagraphs (i) through [(iv)] (v) of paragraph i of subdivision two of this section, then such budget shall be approved if sixty percent of the votes cast thereon are in the affirmative.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01865-01-9
A. 1836 2
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amendments made to section 2023-a of the education law by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.