What's happening
This bill allows school districts in New York to lease buildings outside their boundaries if extenuating circumstances exist.
Why it matters
Flexibility for Overcrowded or Damaged Schools. The bill provides school districts with more options to address overcrowding, emergencies, or disasters by allowing them to lease space outside their boundaries if needed, potentially reducing disruptions to students’ education.
Accountability to the State Commissioner. Leases outside district boundaries are only allowed when “extenuating circumstances” are proven to the satisfaction of the state commissioner of education, adding a layer of oversight and ensuring the exception isn’t used casually.
Potential Impact on Communities and Access. Allowing students to attend school in facilities outside their home district could affect transportation, community cohesion, and equal access. This change might especially matter in densely populated or rapidly growing areas, or where real estate for new school buildings is scarce.
Short-Term and Emergency Solution, Not a Permanent Fix. The legislation clarifies that such leases are to address temporary needs, not as a permanent method of relocating students, which may reassure communities concerned about long-term impacts on district boundaries and identity.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Schools Lease Off-Campus
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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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.
Let Schools Lease Outside District
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor John E. Brooks
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7850
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 24, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JEAN-PIERRE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing leases outside the boundaries of the school district
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 403-b of the education law, as amended by chapter 700 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
The board of education of any union free or central school district is hereby authorized to enter into a lease with any other union free or central school district providing for the use and occupancy by any such school district of a school building, or a portion thereof, owned by such other school district, provided such lessee school district is within a reasonable distance, as determined by the commissioner, from the lessor school district, subject to the conditions set forth in this subdivision. The board of education of any union free or central school district is hereby authorized to enter into a lease with any person, partnership or corporation for use and occupancy of a building or facility, or a portion thereof, owned by such person, partnership, or corporation for use as a school facility provided that such building or facility is located within the school district and subject to the conditions set forth in this subdivision; provided, however, that a board of education of any union free or central school district may be authorized to enter into a lease with any person, partnership or corporation for use and occupancy of a building or facility, or a portion thereof, owned by such person, partnership or corporation for use as a school facility when such building or facility is located outside the school district when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the commissioner that extenuating circumstances exist which necessitate a lease outside the boundaries of the school district.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11772-01-9
A. 7850 2
§ 2. Subdivision 7 of section 1709 of the education law, as added by chapter 130 of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
7. To lease, on a temporary basis, necessary space not located on school property and/or is not located within the school district, when the facilities of the district are overcrowded or damaged or destroyed or when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the commissioner that extenuating circumstances exist which necessitate a lease outside the boundaries of the school district, and to furnish and equip such space for school district use. The use of such space shall be subject to annual approval by the commissioner.
§ 3. 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.