Bill Text: NY A02190 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the streamlining of planning and reporting requirements for school districts and boards of cooperative educational services; and to repeal subdivision 32 of section 305 of such law relating to a study of such requirements

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 31-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - referred to education [A02190 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-A02190-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         2190
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   January 15, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  BALL,  THIELE,  SAYWARD, RABBITT, TEDISCO --
         Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of  A.  AMEDORE,  BACALLES,  BARCLAY,  BOYLE,
         BURLING,  CALHOUN,  CONTE, CROUCH, DUPREY, ERRIGO, FINCH, FITZPATRICK,
         HAWLEY, P. LOPEZ, McDONOUGH, McKEVITT, MILLER, MOLINARO, OAKS, O'MARA,
         QUINN, RAIA, SALADINO, SCOZZAFAVA, TOWNSEND, WALKER -- read  once  and
         referred to the Committee on Education
       AN  ACT  to  amend the education law, in relation to the streamlining of
         planning and reporting requirements for school districts and boards of
         cooperative educational services; and  to  repeal  subdivision  32  of
         section 305 of such law relating to a study of such requirements
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Section 215-b of the education law, as amended  by  chapter
    2  301 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
    3    S 215-b. Annual  report  by  commissioner to governor and legislature.
    4  The commissioner shall prepare and submit to the governor, the president
    5  pro tem of the senate and the speaker of the  assembly  not  later  than
    6  January first, nineteen hundred ninety-six and by the first day of Janu-
    7  ary  in  each  year  thereafter,  a  report  detailing the financial and
    8  statistical outcomes of boards of cooperative educational services which
    9  shall[, at minimum,] set forth with  respect  to  the  preceding  school
   10  year[:  tuition  costs  for  selected  programs; standard per pupil cost
   11  information for selected services as determined by the commissioner; and
   12  aggregate expenditure data for the following categories: administration,
   13  instructional services, career education, special  education,  rent  and
   14  facilities  and  other  services;  and  such other information as deemed
   15  appropriate] INFORMATION  NECESSARY  TO  ASSURE  THE  ACCOUNTABILITY  OF
   16  BOARDS  OF  COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR ITS FISCAL AND PROGRAM-
   17  MATIC RESOURCES, AS SET FORTH IN REGULATIONS TO  BE  PRESCRIBED  by  the
   18  commissioner. The format for such report shall be developed in consulta-
   19  tion  with  school  district  officials  and the director of the budget.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD01461-01-9
       A. 2190                             2
    1  Such report will include changes from the year prior to the report  year
    2  for  each  such item for all boards of cooperative educational services.
    3  WHERE APPLICABLE, SUCH REPORT SHALL BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY  TO  THE
    4  DEPARTMENT  OVER  THE  INTERNET THROUGH A SECURE WEBPAGE AS SET FORTH IN
    5  REGULATIONS TO BE PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER. THIS ELECTRONIC REPORT
    6  SHALL TAKE THE PLACE OF FILING PAPER COPIES OF  SUCH  REPORT  EXCEPT  IN
    7  CIRCUMSTANCES  WHERE  AN  ORIGINAL  SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED, THEN ORIGINAL
    8  PAPER COPIES MUST BE FILED.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE ALL RULES
    9  AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE  ELECTRONIC  FILING  OF  SUCH
   10  REPORT.  Such  report  shall  be distributed to all school districts and
   11  boards of cooperative educational services and shall be  made  available
   12  to all other interested parties upon request.
   13    S  2.  Subdivision  32 of section 305 of the education law is REPEALED
   14  and two new subdivisions 32 and 32-a are added to read as follows:
   15    32. A. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE AND  CONSIST-
   16  ENT  WITH  FEDERAL  AND  STATE LAW, ELIMINATE OR STREAMLINE PROGRAMMATIC
   17  REPORTING, PLANNING  AND  APPLICATION  REQUIREMENTS  IMPOSED  ON  SCHOOL
   18  DISTRICTS  AND  BOARDS  OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, IN ORDER TO
   19  ELIMINATE OR MINIMIZE THE PRODUCTION OF REPORTS, APPLICATIONS AND  PLANS
   20  THAT CONTAIN DUPLICATIVE INFORMATION.  WHERE APPLICABLE, THE COMMISSION-
   21  ER  SHALL REQUIRE THAT ALL SUCH REPORTS, APPLICATIONS AND PLANS SHALL BE
   22  SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OVER THE INTERNET  THROUGH  A
   23  SECURE  WEBPAGE.  THESE ELECTRONIC REPORTS, APPLICATIONS AND PLANS SHALL
   24  TAKE THE PLACE OF FILING PAPER COPIES OF SUCH REPORTS, APPLICATIONS  AND
   25  PLANS  EXCEPT  IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE AN ORIGINAL SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED,
   26  THEN ORIGINAL PAPER COPIES  MUST  BE  FILED.    THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL
   27  PROMULGATE  ALL  RULES  AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE ELEC-
   28  TRONIC FILING OF SUCH REPORTS, APPLICATIONS AND PLANS.  THE COMMISSIONER
   29  SHALL REQUIRE ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOARDS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
   30  SERVICES TO COMPRESS  ALL  DISTRICTWIDE  PLANNING  REQUIREMENTS  INTO  A
   31  SINGLE DISTRICTWIDE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH AT A MINIMUM SHALL INCLUDE
   32  THE COMPONENTS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
   33  TO  THE  DISTRICTWIDE LONG-RANGE CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN, AND APPLICABLE
   34  CURRENT FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. IN THE CASE OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF
   35  THE CITY OF NEW YORK, A DISTRICTWIDE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SHALL BE  DEVEL-
   36  OPED  FOR  THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, EACH COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND
   37  THE DISTRICTS OR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS RESPONSIBLE  FOR  OPERA-
   38  TION  OF  NEW  YORK  CITY  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ALSO
   39  REQUIRE ALL SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  AND  BOARDS  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCATIONAL
   40  SERVICES  TO  COMPRESS  ALL  BUILDING LEVEL PLANNING REQUIREMENTS INTO A
   41  SINGLE BUILDING LEVEL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN,  WHICH  AT  A  MINIMUM,  SHALL
   42  INCLUDE  THE  COMPONENTS  PRESCRIBED  BY THE COMMISSIONER AND APPLICABLE
   43  CURRENT FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF  THE  TRUSTEES  OR
   44  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION  OF EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OF THE CHANCELLOR AND
   45  EACH COMMUNITY DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL COUNCIL IN THE CITY SCHOOL  DISTRICT
   46  OF  THE  CITY  OF NEW YORK AND OF EVERY BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
   47  SERVICES TO ASSURE THAT ALL COMPONENTS OF THE DISTRICTWIDE COMPREHENSIVE
   48  PLAN AND EACH BUILDING LEVEL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ARE AS FULLY  INTEGRATED
   49  AND  CONSISTENT  AS  PRACTICABLE,  AND  THAT SUCH PLANS ARE CONTINUOUSLY
   50  REVIEWED, REFLECT ONGOING ANALYSES OF CURRENT TEACHING AND LEARNING DATA
   51  AND ARE UPDATED ON AT LEAST AN ANNUAL BASIS. NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER
   52  PROVISION  OF LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, ANY SEPARATE PLAN
   53  REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED UNDER THIS CHAPTER OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION  SHALL
   54  BE DEEMED TO BE FULFILLED BY INCLUSION OF SUCH PLAN IN THE COMPREHENSIVE
   55  DISTRICTWIDE OR BUILDING LEVEL PLAN, PROVIDED THAT ALL REQUIRED INFORMA-
   56  TION IS INCLUDED IN THE APPLICABLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
       A. 2190                             3
    1    B.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE THE TRUSTEES OR BOARD OF EDUCATION
    2  OF  EVERY  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  AND  THE  CHANCELLOR  AND  EACH   COMMUNITY
    3  DISTRICT-EDUCATIONAL  COUNCIL IN THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF
    4  NEW YORK AND EVERY BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO MAKE ITS
    5  DISTRICTWIDE  COMPREHENSIVE  PLAN  AND EACH BUILDING LEVEL COMPREHENSIVE
    6  PLAN AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, EXCEPT WHERE SUCH PLANS  CONTAIN  INFORMA-
    7  TION  THAT  IS CONFIDENTIAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE UNDER STATE OR
    8  FEDERAL LAW. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, RULE  OR  REGU-
    9  LATION  TO  THE  CONTRARY,  ANY  SCHOOL DISTRICT OR BOARD OF COOPERATIVE
   10  EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT MAKES ITS  COMPREHENSIVE  DISTRICTWIDE  AND/OR
   11  BUILDING  LEVEL  PLANS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH POSTING
   12  ON ITS WEBSITE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE FILED SUCH PLANS WITH THE DEPART-
   13  MENT AS OF THE DATE OF POSTING AND SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED  TO  SEPARATELY
   14  REPORT  THE  INFORMATION  CONTAINED  IN  SUCH  PLANS  TO THE DEPARTMENT,
   15  PROVIDED THAT SUCH DISTRICT OR BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
   16  REPORTS SUCH POSTING TO THE DEPARTMENT, WITH THE WEB  ADDRESS  AT  WHICH
   17  SUCH  PLANS  ARE  AVAILABLE, IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE DEPARTMENT,
   18  AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL PRECLUDE  THE  DEPARTMENT
   19  FROM  REQUIRING  AMENDMENT  OF  A  PLAN  OR THE SUBMISSION OF ADDITIONAL
   20  INFORMATION WHERE IT DETERMINES THAT THE INFORMATION IN  THE  COMPREHEN-
   21  SIVE  PLANS  IS  NOT CURRENT OR COMPLETE OR OTHERWISE SUFFICIENT TO MEET
   22  STATUTORY OR REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.
   23    32-A. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRA-
   24  RY, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO  GRANT  WAIVERS
   25  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SUBDIVISION  FROM  ANY ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
   26  IMPOSED ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNDER THIS CHAPTER, IN  WHOLE  OR  IN  PART,
   27  PROVIDED  SUCH WAIVERS APPLY TO ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND DO NOT CONFLICT
   28  WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. SUCH WAIVERS MAY BE GRANTED UPON FINDINGS  BY
   29  THE COMMISSIONER THAT:
   30    A.  THE  PURPOSES  OF  THE  REPORT  CAN  BE  SUBSTANTIALLY MET THROUGH
   31  SUBMISSION OF A REPORT ON A TWO-YEAR, THREE-YEAR OR FIVE-YEAR BASIS,  AS
   32  SPECIFIED  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER,  TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OTHER ANNUAL DATA
   33  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION MADE PUBLICLY  AVAILABLE  BY  THE
   34  SCHOOL DISTRICT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS; AND
   35    B.  THE  REPORT OR PORTION OF THE REPORT BEING WAIVED DOES NOT CONTAIN
   36  FISCAL OR OTHER DATA OR INFORMATION NEEDED  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  COMPUTING
   37  STATE  OR  FEDERAL  AID  OR  FOR  PURPOSES  OF SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT
   38  ACCOUNTABILITY OR FOR AUDIT PURPOSES.
   39    S 3. Paragraph c of subdivision 4 of section  1950  of  the  education
   40  law,  as  amended by chapter 301 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read
   41  as follows:
   42    c. Make or cause to be made surveys to determine the need for  cooper-
   43  ative  educational  services in the supervisory district and present the
   44  findings of their surveys to local school  authorities.  Each  board  of
   45  cooperative  educational services shall prepare long range program plans
   46  to meet the projected need for such cooperative educational services  in
   47  the  supervisory district for the next five years as may be specified by
   48  the commissioner, and shall [submit] INCORPORATE such plans [and  there-
   49  after  annual  revisions  of such plans to the commissioner on or before
   50  the first day of December of each year, except  that  special  education
   51  and  career  education program plans, in a form specified by the commis-
   52  sioner, shall be submitted every two years, no later than the date spec-
   53  ified by the commissioner, and revised annually] INTO THE BOARD OF COOP-
   54  ERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES DISTRICTWIDE  COMPREHENSIVE  PLAN.    WHERE
   55  APPLICABLE,  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE THAT ALL SUCH PLANS SHALL BE
   56  SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OVER THE INTERNET  THROUGH  A
       A. 2190                             4
    1  SECURE  WEBPAGE.  THIS  ELECTRONIC  PLAN  SHALL TAKE THE PLACE OF FILING
    2  PAPER COPIES OF SUCH PLAN EXCEPT  IN  CIRCUMSTANCES  WHERE  AN  ORIGINAL
    3  SIGNATURE  IS  REQUIRED,  THEN ORIGINAL PAPER COPIES MUST BE FILED.  THE
    4  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  PROMULGATE  ALL  RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO
    5  IMPLEMENT THE ELECTRONIC FILING OF SUCH PLAN.
    6    S 4. Paragraph b of subdivision 8 of section  3602  of  the  education
    7  law,  as  amended  by  section 16 of part B of chapter 57 of the laws of
    8  2007, is amended to read as follows:
    9    b. District plans of service. Any school district receiving  an  addi-
   10  tional  apportionment  pursuant  to  subdivision ten of this section for
   11  pupils in career education programs or a payment in lieu of such  appor-
   12  tionment  or having a public excess cost aid setaside pursuant to subdi-
   13  vision four of this section shall keep on file and  make  available  for
   14  public  inspection  and review by the commissioner an acceptable plan of
   15  service describing the student outcomes expected from implementation  of
   16  the  proposed  plan,  provided that such plan may be incorporated into a
   17  school district's district-wide comprehensive plan. The plan of  service
   18  [submitted  by]  OF a school district receiving an additional apportion-
   19  ment pursuant to this section for pupils with  disabilities  shall  also
   20  describe  how  such  district  intends  to ensure that all instructional
   21  materials to be used in the schools of such district will be made avail-
   22  able in a usable alternative format for each student with  a  disability
   23  and for each student who is a qualified individual with a disability, at
   24  the same time as such instructional materials are available to non-disa-
   25  bled  students, provided that such plan may incorporate by reference the
   26  alternative format plans developed pursuant to subdivision twenty-nine-a
   27  of section sixteen hundred four, subdivision four-a of section seventeen
   28  hundred nine, subdivision seven-a of section twenty-five  hundred  three
   29  or subdivision seven-a of section twenty-five hundred fifty-four of this
   30  chapter.  Such  plans shall be in a form prescribed by the commissioner,
   31  and except as heretofore provided, shall have the content prescribed  by
   32  the commissioner.  WHERE APPLICABLE, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE THAT
   33  ALL  SUCH PLANS SHALL BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OVER
   34  THE INTERNET THROUGH A SECURE WEBPAGE. THIS ELECTRONIC PLAN  SHALL  TAKE
   35  THE  PLACE  OF  FILING PAPER COPIES OF SUCH PLAN EXCEPT IN CIRCUMSTANCES
   36  WHERE AN ORIGINAL SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED, THEN ORIGINAL PAPER COPIES MUST
   37  BE FILED.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE ALL RULES  AND  REGULATIONS
   38  NECESSARY  TO  IMPLEMENT THE ELECTRONIC FILING OF SUCH PLAN. The commis-
   39  sioner may, from time to time,  require  amendments  of  such  plans  as
   40  deemed  to  be  necessary  and  appropriate  to  further the educational
   41  welfare of the pupils involved.
   42    S 5. Within one year of the effective date of this  act,  the  commis-
   43  sioner  of education shall issue a report to the governor and the legis-
   44  lature detailing the reporting requirements that  have  been  eliminated
   45  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this  act.  Such report shall include
   46  specific statutory requirements,  reports  and  regulatory  requirements
   47  that  have  been eliminated or rendered null and void as a result of the
   48  provisions of this act.  Where applicable, the commissioner of education
   49  shall require that such report shall be submitted electronically to  the
   50  education  department  over  the internet through a secure webpage. This
   51  electronic report shall take the place of filing paper  copies  of  such
   52  report  except in circumstances where an original signature is required,
   53  then original paper copies must be filed.  The commissioner of education
   54  shall promulgate all rules and regulations necessary  to  implement  the
   55  electronic filing of such report.
       A. 2190                             5
    1    S 6. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
    2  it  shall have become a law; provided, however, that section one of this
    3  act, subdivision 32 of section 305 of the education law, as repealed and
    4  added by section two of this act, and sections three and  four  of  this
    5  act  shall  take  effect July 1, 2009.  The commissioner of education is
    6  immediately authorized and directed to promulgate, amend  and/or  repeal
    7  any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on
    8  its effective date on or before such effective date.
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