What's happening
The bill allows eligible not-for-profit religious, educational, or charitable organizations to receive state education funding for secular, primarily science-related uses, with restrictions against advancing religion.
Why it matters
Expands access to public education funding. for a broader range of not-for-profit organizations (including religious groups), but only for secular purposes, meaning organizations that previously could not access these funds may now apply if they use the funds for non-religious, educational activities.
Prioritizes science education. by requiring that funding be primarily directed toward science teaching and learning, which could improve science resources and instruction in both religious and secular not-for-profit schools.
Includes safeguards to maintain church-state separation. by explicitly barring funding to organizations whose main purpose is religious instruction or advancement, and by mandating formal agreements restricting funds to secular uses, thus aiming to comply with constitutional limits.
Gives significant discretion to the education commissioner. to decide which organizations qualify and to set implementing rules, which could affect how strictly the law is enforced and how accessible the funds become in practice.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund Secular Science at Nonprofits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
516
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to education funding for not-for-profit religious, educational and charitable institutions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3642 of the education law is renumbered as section 3643 and a new section 3642 is added to read as follows:
§ 3642. Education funding for certain not-for-profit institutions. 1. Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a not-for-profit corporation, as defined in subparagraph ten of paragraph (a) of section one hundred two of the not-for-profit corporation law, organized for religious, educational or charitable purposes, shall be eligible to receive education funding to the extent that an appropriation is available for such purpose provided, however, that:
(a) Such institution, prior to receipt of such funding, shall enter into an agreement with the commissioner specifying that such funding shall be utilized exclusively for secular educational use.
(b) The funding will be preponderantly utilized to support and improve the teaching of the sciences.
(c) Under no circumstance shall such funding be provided to an institution whose primary purpose is, in the judgment of the commissioner, instruction or advancement of religion.
2. The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the implementation of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to school years beginning on and after July 1, 2020.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05274-01-9
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.