What's happening
This bill requires New York to reimburse school districts for expenses incurred from state-required studies related to district reorganizations.
Why it matters
Shifts financial risk from local school districts to the state. By requiring state reimbursement for studies related to reorganizations (mergers, consolidations, or annexations), the bill ensures that districts are not financially penalized for undertaking state-mandated evaluations, which can otherwise be a barrier to considering reorganization.
May encourage more districts to explore reorganization. School districts that previously hesitated due to the cost of required studies may now be more willing to consider reorganization options that could improve educational outcomes or operational efficiency.
Links implementation to state funding availability. The bill only takes effect once the state budget allocates funds for reimbursements, meaning the benefit to districts is dependent on legislative and budgetary follow-through, not automatic upon passage.
Potentially impacts state budget planning and local education policy. By creating a new financial obligation for the state, this could influence future budget negotiations and priorities, as well as local school district strategies regarding mergers or consolidations.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Pay for School Merger Studies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to education
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1302
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Pay for School Merger Studies
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Carrie Woerner
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3875
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 20, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- 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 reimbursement for studies for districts subject to reorganization
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3602 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 14-a to read as follows:
14-a. Districts shall be reimbursed for any actual expenses incurred relating to any study that is required by the department for purposes of approving a reorganization. For purposes of this subdivision the term "reorganization" shall mean any merger, consolidation, or annexation eligible for aid under subdivision fourteen of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that if upon such effective date, an appropriation to the education department shall not have been made for reimbursement of school districts and boards of cooperative educational services for the purposes of implementing the provisions of subdivision 14-a of section 3602 of the education law, as added by section one of this act, then this act shall take effect on the forty-fifth day after such an appropriation is made, and provided, further, that the division of the budget shall notify the legislative bill drifting commission upon enactment whether such an appropriation has been made, and if such appropriation shall not have been made on or before such date, the division of the budget shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the date such an appropriation shall have been made, in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01217-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to reimbursement for studies for districts subject to reorganization
Purpose
This legislation provides that reorganization aid afforded to school districts upon merger, consolidation, or annexation under Education Law § 3602(14) include reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of districts relating to any study required by the State Education Depart- ment for the purposes of approving a reorganization of the school district.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 provides that districts be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred relating to any study required by the department for purposes of approving a reorganization, which is defined as "any merger, consol- idation, or annexation eligible for aid" under Education Law § 3602(14)..
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
Currently, if two or more school district's boards of education agree that reorganization may have potential benefit for their respective districts, a comprehensive feasibility study is undertaken to develop information relating to how the reorganized district(s) would operate. Such a study is often required by the State Education Department prior to issuing formal orders which permit the districts to proceed legally through the reorganization process.
Education Law § 3602(14) sets out the reorganization aid currently provided by New York State to districts upon merger or consolidation, but the law does not include language that would reimburse districts for the cost of related feasibility studies that all or nearly all districts would have required.
It is incumbent that this legislation be enacted, so that school districts are neither burdened with the costs of these feasibility studies, nor be deterred from pursuing merger or consolidation due to the costs associated.
Legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
Unknown.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; with exceptions. Provided, however, that if upon such effective date, an appropriation to the education department shall not have been made for reimbursement of school districts and boards of cooperative educational services for the purposes of implementing the provisions of subdivision 14-a of section 3602 of the education law, as added by section one of this act, then this act shall take effect on the forty-fifth day after such an appro- priation is made, and provided, further, that the division of the budget shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon enactment whether such an appropriation has been made, and if such appropriation shall not have been made on or before such date, the division of the budget shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the date such an appropriation shall have been made, in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.