What's happening
This bill directs the education department to study, recommend, and facilitate the consolidation of small school districts, including provisions for public input, referendums, and increased state aid.
Why it matters
Targets small and neighboring districts. The bill focuses on school districts with 1,000 or fewer students and their neighbors or contract partners, potentially affecting many rural and small-town communities where district identity and local control are significant issues.
Requires robust public involvement. The process mandates public hearings, citizen advisory committees, and ultimately a public referendum in each affected district, ensuring that local voices are part of the decision and giving community members real power to approve or block consolidations.
Offers substantial financial incentives. Consolidated districts would receive an additional 10% in state aid for 20 years, but with restrictions—this funding can’t be used for staff salary or benefit increases, only for consolidation costs, educational improvements, or tax reductions. This could drive significant financial and educational changes in participating districts.
Creates a structured, multi-stage process. The bill lays out a detailed, step-by-step sequence: state study and recommendations, local advisory input, feasibility analysis, public hearings, and then a binding community vote. This comprehensive framework could set a precedent for how school consolidations are approached statewide.
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Study School District Mergers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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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.
Study School District Mergers
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3690 A. 5412
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the consolidation of school districts
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 1509-a to read as follows:
§ 1509-a. School district consolidation. 1. The department is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a study to identify school districts within the state that may benefit from consolidation with one or more school district. The study shall be limited in scope to include each school district within the state with one thousand students or less and any school district that either: (1) shares a common border with such district; or (2) has an existing contract to educate some or all of the students of such district with one thousand students or less. Criteria used to determine which school districts shall be considered for consolidation shall be determined by the department. The department shall issue a report based on the findings of such study which shall clearly identify the school districts that the department recommends for consolidation.
2. The report issued pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall be completed within six months after the effective date of this section. Such report shall be made available for review by the public and shall be posted on the department's internet web page.
3. Each proposed consolidation identified in the report recommended by the department shall be the subject of public hearings in a manner to be determined by the department. A hearing shall be held in each school
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03189-01-9
S. 3690 2 A. 5412
district which is proposed to be part of a consolidation. Within thirty days after the completion of such public hearings, the department shall publish a final list of school districts that the department recommends for consolidation. Such list shall be made available for review by the public and shall be posted on the department's internet web page.
4. Each school district identified in the list directed to be made pursuant to subdivision three of this section shall establish a citizen advisory committee. The membership of each citizen advisory committee shall be established in a manner to be determined by the department.
5. The department is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a study for each proposed consolidation set forth in the list pursuant to subdivision three of this section on the feasibility of the consolidation of such districts. Each feasibility study shall be conducted in conjunction and cooperation with the local citizen advisory committee. The department shall issue a report for each school district based on the findings of each such feasibility study within ninety days after the publication of the list prepared pursuant to subdivision three of this section. Each report shall be made available for review by the community in which such school district is located and shall be posted on the department's internet web page.
6. Upon completion of each feasibility study authorized and directed to be made pursuant to subdivision five of this section, each school district shall conduct public hearings in a manner to be determined by the department. Upon the completion of such public hearings a public referendum to approve or disapprove such consolidation shall be submitted to the eligible voters residing in the consolidating school districts. A majority vote of each school district proposed for consolidation shall be required to effectuate the proposed consolidation.
7. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each school district consolidated pursuant to this section shall receive an additional ten percent of state aid for twenty years following such consolidation. Such additional state aid shall be calculated using the highest state aid ratio of the consolidating school districts.
8. Additional state aid granted pursuant to subdivision seven of this section shall be used solely for the costs of the consolidation and reorganization of such district, to improve the quality of education within the consolidated school district or to reduce taxes. No such additional state aid shall be used to increase salaries or benefits of school district administrators, teachers and staff.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.