What's happening
This bill appropriates $132,000 to pay prior year claims for the Vocational Education and Extension Board of Suffolk County.
Why it matters
Addresses unpaid obligations. This appropriation is specifically for "prior year claims," meaning it tackles outstanding debts or obligations owed by the Vocational Education and Extension Board of Suffolk County, ensuring vendors or service providers are compensated for past work.
Supports continuity of services. By resolving these financial backlogs, the bill helps maintain trust and stability in the programs run by the Board, which could otherwise face disruption if debts remain unpaid.
Reflects state oversight and intervention. The need for this appropriation signals that there was a gap in previous budgeting or payment processes, highlighting the state’s role in stepping in to ensure essential educational entities are not financially hamstrung.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Pay Past Suffolk Education Bills
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
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.
Pay Suffolk Vocational Board Debt
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3380
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT appropriating money to pay prior year claims for The Vocational Education and Extension Board of the County of Suffolk
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The sum of one hundred thirty-two thousand dollars ($132,000) is hereby appropriated to the state education department out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the local assistance account, not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available to pay prior year claims for The Vocational Education and Extension Board of the County of Suffolk.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09244-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act appropriating money to pay prior year claims for The Vocational Education and Extension Board of the County of Suffolk
Purpose
This bill appropriates $132,000 to The Vocational Education and Exten- sion Board of the County of Suffolk.
Summary of specific provisions
Section One directs the sum of $132,000 to the state education depart- ment out of the general fund, to pay prior year claims for The Voca- tional Education and Extension Board of the County of Suffolk.
Justification
The Suffolk County Fire Academy Vocational Education and Extension Board (SCVEEB) is owed state aid, due from 2007-2008 and 2009-2010, in the amount of $132,000. SCVEEB provides classroom instruction and field training for local fire departments throughout Suffolk County. Courses range from basic firefighting to incident command, incident management and other specialized training. SCVEEB serves a vital public safety function throughout Suffolk County.
Section 1104 of the Education Law, requires the Commissioner of Educa- tion to appropriate public funds to each county maintaining an approved vocational education and extension board, a quota amounting to one-half of the salary paid to each teacher, director, assistant and supervisor, but not to exceed $10,500 for each employee (Educational Law Section 1104(1)). In 2009, the Appellate Division, Third Department, held that the New York State Education Department had abused its discretion in its interpretation of the statutory language contained in Section 1104, and that SCVEEB was owed additional state aide (Matter of Suffolk County Fire Academy Vocational Education & Extension Board v. New York State).
Since then, the appropriation for this budget line has been underfunded, resulting in insufficient funds to pay the balance due, as directed via the court order. Language contained in the 2017-18 Budget provided that payments from the appropriation made pursuant to Education Law 1104 "Shall be made for approved claims for salary expenses for the 2017-18 school year, and any amount remaining after payment of such claims shall be available for payment of unpaid claims for prior school years". This budget language has allowed the Executive to circumvent paying the state aid owed to SCVEEB. This legislation will correct a wrong, and appro- priate funding that has been owed to SCVEEB, for almost ten years. With- out this funding, SCVEEB will not be able to deliver the vital educa- tional services that our fire departments need and deserve.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
$132,000 to the state.
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.