S1570-2011 Actions

• Jan 11, 2012: PRINT NUMBER 1570A
• Jan 11, 2012: AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO EDUCATION
• Jan 10, 2011: REFERRED TO EDUCATION

S1570-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1570

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Place a
Child in Every School Seat Act of 2011"

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To establish a
public awareness and
education campaign on the importance of earning a high school degree,
and create an incentive program to improve school attendance by
offering awards based on best overall attendance and/or most improved
attendance, under the direction of the Education Department with the
advice and consent of the Board of Regents.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Adds a new section 3205-a to the
education law to provide for a public awareness and education
campaign on the importance of earning a high school degree, and to
create an incentive program to improve school attendance statewide.

JUSTIFICATION:
Studies have demonstrated a clear link between
absenteeism in school and juvenile delinquency. According to the
National Conference of State Legislatures, one study of high school
dropouts showed that 80 percent had been chronically absent from
school in the previous school year. There are widespread public
benefits to improving school attendance, including reduced crime,
higher earning potential by high school graduates, and greater civic
engagement. Several states have adopted innovative programs to
improve school attendance, including pizza parties, ice cream
socials, and even financial rewards. New York should not "bribe" its
students to attend school, but we should provide additional
motivation in an appropriate manner.

This bill directs the State Education Department to establish a public
awareness and education campaign on the importance of earning a high
school degree, and to create an incentive program to improve school
attendance by offering awards based on best overall attendance and/or
most improved attendance. The nature of these incentives would be
decided by the Department with the advice and consent of the Board of
Regents and should appeal to school children in all parts of the
state and in all income brackets.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.253 of 2007-2008.
A.291/S.4372 of 2009/2010

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

S1570-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         1570
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 January 10, 2011
 
 Introduced by Sens. OPPENHEIMER, PARKER -- read twice and ordered print
 ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 AN  ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Place a
 Child in Every School Seat Act of 2011"
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section  1.  This  act shall be known and may be cited as the "place a
 child in every school seat act of 2011".
 

S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new  section  3205-a  to
 read as follows:

 

S  3205-A.  "PLACE  A  CHILD IN EVERY SCHOOL SEAT ACT OF 2011"; PUBLIC
 AWARENESS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL ATTENDANCE; INCENTIVES TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE.
 1. THE DEPARTMENT IS HEREBY DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC AWARENESS AND
 EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, EMPHASIZING THE
 BENEFITS OF ATTENDING SCHOOL AND EARNING, AT A MINIMUM,  A  HIGH  SCHOOL
 DIPLOMA,  AND  THE  POTENTIAL  CONSEQUENCES  RELATED  TO DROPPING OUT OF
 SCHOOL. SUCH PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SHALL  BE  DIRECTED
 AT  MINORS  WHOSE  ATTENDANCE  AT SCHOOL IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION
 THIRTY-TWO HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS PART AND AT THEIR PARENTS  OR  GUARDIANS
 AND  SHALL UTILIZE A VARIETY OF MEDIA SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TELE
 VISION, BILLBOARDS, RADIO, AND INTERNET.
 2. THE DEPARTMENT IS HEREBY DIRECTED TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO
 IMPROVE STUDENT  ATTENDANCE  REQUIRED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  THIRTY-TWO
 HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS PART. INCENTIVES SHALL BE DEVELOPED WITH THE ADVICE
 AND CONSENT OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS AS TO AN APPROPRIATE BUT MOTIVATION
 AL  INCENTIVE THAT WILL APPEAL TO STUDENTS IN ALL PARTS OF THE STATE AND
 IN ALL INCOME BRACKETS. THE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGED TO  DEVELOP  INCEN
 TIVES DIRECTED AT STUDENTS SPECIFICALLY SO AS TO MOTIVATE EXCITEMENT AND
 ENTHUSIASM FOR ATTENDANCE. SUCH AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND/OR AWARDS SHALL
 BE  BASED ON A DISTRICT'S OVERALL ATTENDANCE OR MOST IMPROVED ATTENDANCE
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD05296-01-1
 
       S. 1570                             2
 AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE STUDENT BODY FROM THE PREVIOUS  YEAR.  INCENTIVES
 MAY BE AWARDED TO MORE THAN ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EACH SCHOOL YEAR.
 3.  THE  DEPARTMENT  IS  DIRECTED  TO MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO SEEK
 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND/OR PRIVATE RESOURCES TO  SUPPLEMENT  APPROPRIATED
 FUNDS  TO  DEVELOP THE PROGRAMS CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISIONS ONE AND
 TWO OF THIS SECTION.
 

S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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