What's happening
This bill requires New York school districts to provide basic school supplies to K-12 students using state funds.
Why it matters
Reduces financial burden on families. By requiring schools to provide essential supplies, the bill helps alleviate the cost of back-to-school shopping, which can be significant for low-income households.
Promotes educational equity. Ensuring that every student receives the same basic supplies helps level the playing field, so that a child’s ability to participate in class doesn’t depend on their family’s economic situation.
Standardizes preparation across districts. The bill sets a uniform standard for what constitutes “basic school supplies,” potentially reducing disparities between schools and districts in what is provided to students.
Creates accountability for funds. By mandating that unused funds be returned to the state, the bill adds a layer of fiscal oversight and ensures money is spent specifically on student needs.
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Who cares
Public school districts
Districts would receive $10 per enrolled K–12 student to provide basic school supplies by the first day of school each year and would have to return unused funds.
K–12 public school students and families
Students would receive district-provided basic supplies, including items such as pencils, notebooks and calculators.
State education commissioner
The commissioner would be required to distribute the per-student grants beginning with the 2020–2021 school year and receive any unused funds returned by districts.
Headline styles
Fund Free School Supplies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in 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.
Provide Free School Supplies
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Patrick M. Gallivan
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5296
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 8, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing for basic school supplies for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade
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 3602-g to read as follows:
§ 3602-g. Apportionment of moneys to school districts for basic supplies. 1. Definitions. As used in this section the following terms are defined as follows:
a. "Basic school supplies" shall mean items generally required by a student to attend school including, but not limited to, pencils, pens, highlighters, crayons, markers, erasers, index cards, paper, notebooks, binders, folders, scissors, rulers and calculators.
b. "School district" shall mean the school district which the student attends.
2. a. The commissioner is hereby authorized and directed to grant to each school district ten dollars per student enrolled in public schools in the school district in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade beginning with the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one school year. Each school district shall use such funds to furnish such students with basic school supplies on or before the first day of school each year.
b. Any funds which are unused shall be returned to the commissioner.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02860-02-9
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.