What's happening
This bill requires New York public schools to provide $10 per student for basic school supplies for grades K-12.
Why it matters
Eases the financial burden on families. by ensuring that every public school student in grades K-12 receives essential classroom supplies, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs for parents.
Promotes educational equity. by helping to level the playing field for students from low-income households who may otherwise struggle to afford necessary supplies, supporting a more consistent learning experience for all.
Requires schools to distribute supplies before classes begin,. which could improve student readiness and participation from day one, and minimizes classroom disruptions related to missing materials.
Includes oversight and accountability. by mandating unused funds be returned to the state, ensuring that the allocated money is used specifically for its intended purpose and not diverted elsewhere.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Provide Free School Supplies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Fund Free School Supplies
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor David DiPietro
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1066
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing for basic school supplies for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require the State Education Department (SED) to grant necessary financial resources to all school districts statewide so that such school districts may be able to provide basic school supplies to students.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends the education law by adding section 3602-g that requires the SED Commissioner to provide each public school district ten dollars per student in grades kindergarten through twelfth, beginning in the 2019-20 school year, to furnish them with basic school supplies on or before the first day of school.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
The cost of school supplies increases economic hardship for New York State families. Requiring SED to grant resources to school districts will allow said districts to provide the necessary educational tools students need in order to achieve success.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.6810a/A.78970c Referred to Education
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.