S925-2011 Actions

• Jan 5, 2012: PRINT NUMBER 925A
• Jan 5, 2012: AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO EDUCATION
• Jan 5, 2011: REFERRED TO EDUCATION

S925-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S925

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to requiring fixed percentages
of school district budgets to be used for classroom expenses

PURPOSE:
This bill requires that a fixed percentage amount of school district
budgets will be dedicated and utilized solely for classroom expenses.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The education law is amended by adding a new section 1527-a to require
fixed percentages of school district budgets to be used for classroom
expenses. The State Education Department Commissioner is required to
define what is meant by "classroom expenses" and will identify these
expenses to the districts.

Beginning in the 2007-08 school year the minimum fixed percentage would
be 65%. In 2008-2009, the percentage would increase to 70% and would max
out at a minimum percentage of 75% in school year 2009-2010.

Any school district which does not meet these standards must increase
their percentage at a minimum of 2% each year until they reach the
required percentage.

JUSTIFICATION:
In a global, information-age economy, young Americans will not enjoy a
first class economic future without a first class education today. The
climate for success begins and ends in the classroom. Regardless of the
county or school district students live within, we need every student in
New York State to have the opportunity for the best possible education.

The goal of this legislation is to insure by 2010, that at least 75% of
what taxpayers spend on K-12 education actually makes its way into the
classroom.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.6398-A of 2006; S.611 of 2007/2008; S.597 of 2009/10

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S925-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                          925
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 5, 2011
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MARCELLINO  -- 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  requiring  fixed
 percentages  of  school  district  budgets  to  be  used for classroom
 expenses
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 1527-a
 to read as follows:

 

S  1527-A.  SCHOOL BUDGET CLASSROOM EXPENSES.  1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
 SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED  TO  PROMUL
 GATE  RULES  AND REGULATIONS TO DEFINE THE TERM "CLASSROOM EXPENSES" AND
 TO IDENTIFY THOSE EXPENSES AT A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH SHALL  QUALIFY  AS
 CLASSROOM EXPENSES.
 2.  BEGINNING  WITH  THE  TWO  THOUSAND  TWELVE--TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN
 SCHOOL YEAR AND EVERY SCHOOL YEAR THEREAFTER, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET
 FOR EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THIS STATE SHALL, AT A  MINIMUM,  PROVIDE  A
 FIXED  PERCENTAGE  AMOUNT  OF  SUCH  BUDGET  THAT SHALL BE DEDICATED AND
 UTILIZED FOR CLASSROOM EXPENSES WITHIN SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS FOLLOWS:

 A. FOR THE TWO THOUSAND TWELVE--TWO  THOUSAND  THIRTEEN  SCHOOL  YEAR,
 SUCH  FIXED  PERCENTAGE  AMOUNT SHALL BE SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL
 SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET;
 B. FOR THE TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN--TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN  SCHOOL  YEAR,
 SUCH  FIXED  PERCENTAGE  AMOUNT  SHALL  BE  SEVENTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL
 SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET; AND
 C. FOR THE TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN--TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN SCHOOL YEAR AND
 EACH SCHOOL YEAR THEREAFTER,  SUCH  FIXED  PERCENTAGE  AMOUNT  SHALL  BE
 SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET.
 3.  ANY  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  WHICH PROVIDES LESS THAN THE REQUIRED FIXED
 PERCENTAGE AMOUNT FOR CLASSROOM EXPENSES SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04406-01-1
 
       S. 925                              2
 THIS SECTION FOR ANY SCHOOL YEAR SHALL  INCREASE  THAT  PORTION  OF  ITS
 BUDGET DEDICATED AND UTILIZED FOR CLASSROOM EXPENSES BY A MINIMUM OF TWO
 PERCENT  EACH  YEAR UNTIL SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
 REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.
 4.  IF  ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF
 THIS SECTION FOR ANY SCHOOL YEAR, SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY APPLY TO  THE
 COMMISSIONER  FOR  A WAIVER FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION FOR SUCH
 SCHOOL YEAR. UPON A FINDING BY THE  COMMISSIONER  THAT  SPECIAL  CIRCUM
 STANCES  EXIST  THAT  JUSTIFY SUCH NONCOMPLIANCE, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
 GRANT SUCH WAIVER FOR SUCH SCHOOL YEAR. SUCH WAIVER SHALL  BE  RENEWABLE
 ON  A  YEAR  TO  YEAR BASIS UPON A FINDING BY THE COMMISSIONER THAT SUCH
 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES CONTINUE TO EXIST.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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