What's happening
This bill requires the New York State Board of Regents to hold at least two annual meetings in New York City with public notice, participation, and webcasting.
Why it matters
Expands public access and transparency. By mandating at least two annual public meetings in New York City with advance notice and agendas, the bill ensures that parents, educators, and community members have more opportunities to be informed about and participate in decisions affecting city schools.
Strengthens parental and community involvement. The requirement for meetings to be scheduled at times conducive to parental attendance, and the obligation for the Department of Education to proactively notify parent organizations and school leaders, increases the likelihood that diverse voices—especially those of parents and advocates—are heard.
Guarantees public comment opportunities. The law ensures that at each NYC meeting, there will be a minimum 30-minute public speaking period prior to any board or committee action, giving the public a consistent avenue to voice concerns or support for items on the agenda.
Improves statewide accountability. By extending webcasting requirements to all Regents’ committee meetings (not just general board meetings), the bill broadens public oversight of education policy deliberations, making the process more accessible and transparent for stakeholders across the state.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Hold Regents Meetings in NYC
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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.
Regents Must Meet in NYC
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Velmanette Montgomery
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3921
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, PERRY, WALKER, SOLAGES, BARRON, COOK, RIVERA, ARROYO, PICHARDO, CRESPO, BENEDETTO, CARROLL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring that the New York state board of regents hold at least two meetings a year in the city of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 204 of the education law is amended by adding two new subdivisions 5 and 6 to read as follows:
5. a. The regents shall hold at least two meetings in each calendar year in a city having a population of one million or more. Such meetings shall be held at a time to ensure parental attendance and participation.
b. (i) The regents shall announce the location, time and agenda of each meeting to be held in a city having a population of one million or more whenever such meeting is scheduled, but not later than three weeks before the meeting date to allow adequate time for public review. Provided, however, that if an agenda for any such meeting is not available, such agenda shall be announced as soon as it becomes available.
(ii) Such announcements shall be made available on the regents' public website and the New York city department of education website in the same manner as other public meetings are announced. The New York city department of education shall inform parent education advocates, teachers, principals and other school administrators of the location, time and agenda of such meetings held in a city having a population of one million or more. For the purposes of this subdivision, the term "parent education advocates" shall include, but not be limited to parent associations, parent-teacher associations, school leadership teams, presidents councils, district leadership teams and citywide and communitywide education councils.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02887-01-9
A. 3921 2
c. At each meeting of the regents held in a city having a population of one million or more, the public shall be allotted a period of time, not less than thirty minutes, to speak on any topic on the agenda. The public speaking period shall take place prior to any board or committee action.
6. Every committee meeting of the regents shall be webcast in the same manner as general board meetings.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such date.
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.