What's happening
This bill establishes a civic education fund to support civics education projects through grants to community organizations and requires annual reporting.
Why it matters
Broadens Access to Civic Learning. By directing funds to a wide range of community-based and non-traditional organizations (not just schools), the bill encourages diverse, locally relevant approaches to civics education, potentially reaching underserved or marginalized groups.
Supports Experiential Learning. Funding may be used for hands-on projects like mock trials, debates, and voter registration—methods shown to make civics more engaging and practical, helping participants better understand and participate in government and community issues.
Increases Transparency and Accountability. The requirement for an annual public report on fund usage ensures oversight, helping the public and lawmakers track how money is spent, which types of programs are prioritized, and whether the program is meeting its goals.
Strengthens Community Engagement. By tying civics education to local, state, and federal issues that impact students' communities, the bill encourages young people to see the direct relevance of civic participation, which may boost long-term civic involvement and voter turnout.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Civic Education Fund
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Vetoed memo.216
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.648
- Substituted for A7202
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–3
- Ordered to third reading cal.1493
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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.
Fund Civic Education Projects
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jo Anne Simon
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3951
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 21, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MONTGOMERY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the civic education fund
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 91-e to read as follows:
§ 91-e. Civic education fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the state comptroller and the commissioner of education, a special fund to be known as the "civic education fund".
2. Such fund shall consist of all moneys appropriated, credited or transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into the fund according to law.
3. Monies from the fund shall be expended only for community-based organizations, non-profits and other non-traditional organizations to implement civics education projects including, but not limited to, universities, museums, libraries, and cultural institutions. Such funds may also be expended for civic education projects including, but not limited to, mock trials, debate forums, voter registration activities, and projects that demonstrate an understanding of the connections between federal, state and local politics including issues that may impact the students' community.
4. On or before the first of February of each year, the commissioner of education shall provide a written report to the temporary president of the senate, speaker of the assembly, chair of the senate finance committee, chair of the assembly ways and means committee, chair of the senate committee on education, chair of the assembly committee on education, the state comptroller and the public. Such report shall include
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09296-03-9
S. 3951 2
how the monies of the fund were utilized during the preceding calendar year and shall include:
(i) the amount of money dispersed from the fund;
(ii) the purpose of the expenditures from the fund; and
(iii) anticipated expenditure projections for the next year.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the civic education fund
Purpose
This bill would establish the civic education fund, to be utilized by community-based organizations, non-profits, and other non-traditional organizations to implement civic education projects.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the state finance law by adding a new section 91-e, establishing the civic education fund. Monies from the fund shall be expended only for community-based organizations, non-pro- fits, and other non-traditional organizations to implement civic educa- tion projects. A written report will be issued annually by the commis- sioner of education including the amount of money dispersed from the fund, the purpose of the expenditures, and anticipated expenditure projections for the next year.
Justification
There is a civic education movement brewing across the Country. In response to the recent political divide, rhetoric and lack of civic participation, educators, academics, community institutions, non-pro- fits, and local governments, have banned together to implement civic education for students using a simulation-based approach.
In 2015, the state of Colorado, implemented the Judicially Speaking Program. Crafted by three local judges, the program uses interactive exercises and firsthand experience to teach students about the role of the judiciary in the American legal system. Another example is Project Soapbox, a program in which students choose a community issue of impor- tance to them, research this issue then write and deliver a speech to fellow students and community members who serve as judges. Project Soapbox is currently being implemented in schools in Seattle, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Furthermore, in 2018 Massachusetts passed legis- lation to promote and enhance civic engagement through simulation-based education. Among other stipulations, eighth grade students are given the opportunity to participate in civic education projects.
The proposed Civic Education Fund bill would establish a special fund to be utilized by community-based organizations, non-profits, and other non-traditional organizations to implement civic education projects. Universities, museums, libraries, cultural and community institutions would be able to implement civic education programming in public schools and across our communities. This program will empower local insti- tutions, facilitate relationships between those institutions and local public schools and, most importantly, educate our students and communi- ties on their American civic duties and responsibilities.
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.