S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6202

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 26, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. BARRA, WALKER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
  BURLING -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to an after-school  chal-
  lenge program

  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 319 to
read as follows:
  S 319. AFTER-SCHOOL CHALLENGE PROGRAM. 1. THERE IS HEREBY  ESTABLISHED
UNDER  THE  JURISDICTION  OF  THE COMMISSIONER AN AFTER-SCHOOL CHALLENGE
PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SCHOOLS WITH MATCHING FUNDS FOR RESOURCES  RAISED  IN
PRIVATE  DONATIONS TO SUPPORT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. EACH DISTRICT SHALL
BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A MAXIMUM OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS  ANNUALLY  IN
MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE STATE BEGINNING WITH THE TWO THOUSAND THREE--TWO
THOUSAND  FOUR  SCHOOL  YEAR.  PROGRAMS UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE, LOW-COST  AFTER-SCHOOL  CARE  FOR  STUDENTS  IN  GRADES  ONE
THROUGH  EIGHT  THAT  RUN  AFTER  SCHOOL UNTIL AT LEAST SIX O'CLOCK P.M.
PRIORITY IN AWARDING GRANTS SHALL BE GIVEN TO CURRICULUM BASED EDUCATION
PROGRAMS OR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH
ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR THE AWARDING OF CHALLENGE GRANTS PROVIDED FOR IN
THIS SECTION.
  2. THE MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS RAISED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST BE FROM
SOURCES OTHER THAN  STATE  APPROPRIATIONS  OR  FEDERAL  FUNDS.  MATCHING
CONTRIBUTIONS  SHALL  COME  FROM CONTRIBUTIONS, PLEDGED FOR THE PURPOSES
SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION OR UNPLEDGED, AND ACCRUED INVESTMENT  EARNINGS
THEREON,  MADE  AFTER  JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN. DONATIONS MAY BE
FINANCIAL OR IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM INDIVIDUALS  AND  BUSI-
NESSES  THROUGHOUT  THE  COMMUNITY. ONCE THE NECESSARY LEVEL OF MATCHING
CONTRIBUTIONS HAS BEEN RAISED, THE DISTRICT SHALL  PROVIDE  VERIFICATION
TO  THE  COMMISSIONER  THAT THE REQUIRED LEVEL OF CONTRIBUTIONS HAS BEEN

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD08007-01-9

              

A. 6202                             2

RECEIVED AND IS BEING HELD TO BE USED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORT-
ING AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
  3.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL REPORT ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM ON OR
BEFORE JULY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE.
  S 2. This act shall take effect July  1,  2010.  The  commissioner  of
education  is  authorized  and directed to promulgate any rules or regu-
lations necessary for the implementation of this act on or  before  such
effective date.