What's happening
This bill requires all public and private elementary and secondary schools in large cities to close during a governor-declared weather-related state of emergency.
Why it matters
Centralizes Decision-Making for School Closures. By requiring school closures during a governor-declared weather emergency, the bill removes discretion from individual schools and districts, ensuring a unified, citywide response that may prioritize safety but reduces local flexibility.
Applies to Both Public and Private Schools. The mandate includes all elementary and secondary schools, not just public ones, which means families and students in private education will be affected equally, potentially disrupting varied educational and childcare arrangements.
Targets Only New York’s Largest Cities. The law is limited to cities with populations over one million, such as New York City, so its impact will be concentrated in densely populated urban areas where school closures can have significant ripple effects on families, businesses, and city services.
Direct Link between State and City Leadership. The mechanism allows the governor to act on their own or upon a city mayor’s request, creating a formal channel for local concerns to trigger statewide action, which could streamline emergency responses but also politicize school operations during severe weather.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Automatic School Closures for Emergencies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2638
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 28, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring elementary and secondary schools to close in the event the governor declares a state of emergency related to the weather in any city having a population of one million or more
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 27-a to read as follows:
§ 27-a. Weather related state of emergency. Whenever the governor, on his or her own initiative or pursuant to a request from the mayor of a city having a population of one million or more, finds that a state of emergency exists because of the imminent or existing weather conditions in a city having a population of one million or more, he or she shall declare a weather related state of emergency by executive order. Upon such a declaration all public and private elementary and secondary schools in such city shall be closed and remain closed until such state of emergency is terminated.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07425-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring elementary and secondary schools to close in the event the governor declares a state of emergency related to the weather in any city having a popu- lation of one million or more
Purpose
Provides that when the governor declares a state of emergency in a city having a population of one million or more, all public and private elementary and secondary schools shall be closed.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 states that the executive law is amended by adding a new section 27-a.
Justification
Upon declaration of a state of emergency in a city populated with one million or more in New York State, all elementary and secondary schools are to be closed down for the sake of all students and staff traveling to and from such schools. A lot of students utilize public transporta- tion to get to and from school and in a state of emergency there is reduced schedule of busses and trains. In addition, in a weather state of emergency it is usually advised to stay off the roads for safety and it is unsafe to require staff to drive and students to be subject to dangerous conditions.
Legislative history
2018: S.6290 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs 2017: S.6290 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs 2016: S.3352 - Passed Senate 2015: S.3352 - Passed Senate 2014: S.6523 - Passed Senate / A.9266 Referred to Education
Fiscal implications
None.
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.