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

                                  8169

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               May 6, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, OAKS, BACALLES, MILLER -- Multi-Sponsored
  by  --  M.  of  A.   ALFANO, BARCLAY, BARRA, BURLING, CALHOUN, CROUCH,
  ERRIGO, FITZPATRICK, GIGLIO, KOLB, McDONOUGH, O'MARA, QUINN,  RABBITT,
  RAIA,  SALADINO,  SAYWARD,  TEDISCO, TOWNSEND, WALKER -- read once and
  referred to the Committee on Education

AN ACT to amend the education law and the tax law, in  relation  to  the
  development  of  a  business and community partnership plan by certain
  school districts

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Section  4602 of the education law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
  6. A. ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY CREATE AND UPDATE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS  A
BUSINESS  AND  COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PLAN.  SUCH PLAN TO BE DEVELOPED BY
SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN  COORDINATION  WITH  INTERESTED  BUSINESS  REPRESEN-
TATIVES FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SHALL:
  (I)  IDENTIFY THOSE STUDENTS MOST AT-RISK OF ACADEMIC FAILURE OR DROP-
PING OUT OF SCHOOL;
  (II)  DEVELOP  STRATEGIES  WHERE  BUSINESSES  CAN  ASSIST  SCHOOLS  IN
ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THESE STUDENTS; AND
  (III) DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY INTERESTS
TO  PROVIDE  ACADEMIC,  SOCIAL  AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT THROUGH WORKPLACE
MENTORS TO HELP IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION RATES.
  B. ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  SHALL  APPOINT  AT  LEAST  ONE
SCHOOL  OFFICIAL  TO  BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTING AS A FACILITATOR BETWEEN
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE DISTRICT IN DEVELOPING THIS PROGRAM. THIS
PERSON SHALL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MEETING WITH PARTICIPATING STUDENTS
REGULARLY  TO  MONITOR  THE  STUDENTS'  ADHERENCE  TO  THE   PARTNERSHIP
CONTRACT.  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  ARE  AUTHORIZED  TO  PROVIDE  A STIPEND TO
REFLECT THE TIME THE APPOINTEE SPENDS IN MEETING THESE RESPONSIBILITIES.
IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DETERMINES THAT A PERSON SHOULD BE EMPLOYED SOLE-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03898-01-9
              

A. 8169                             2

LY TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM, THAT POSITION SHALL BE  AIDABLE  PURSUANT
TO SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED FIFTY OF THIS CHAPTER.
  C.  STUDENTS AGREEING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM SHALL SIGN A PART-
NERSHIP CONTRACT. THE CONTRACT SHALL  GUARANTEE  AN  INTERNSHIP  OR  JOB
PLACEMENT  IN  A  LOCAL BUSINESS THAT HAS AGREED TO SPONSOR SUCH STUDENT
AND ASSIST THEM, THROUGH THE ASSIGNMENT OF A WORKPLACE MENTOR, IN DEVEL-
OPING  GOOD  WORK  HABITS,  UNDERSTANDING  THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT  INCLUDING  OBTAINING  A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, AND SUPPORTING
POST SECONDARY GOALS. THE STUDENT SHALL  AGREE  TO  MAINTAIN  A  MINIMUM
ATTENDANCE  RATE AT SCHOOL AND WORK OF NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT, DEMONSTRATE
CONTINUED ACADEMIC  IMPROVEMENT,  AND  TO  CONDUCT  HIMSELF  OR  HERSELF
CONSCIENTIOUSLY AND PROFESSIONALLY IN THE WORKPLACE. SUCH CONTRACT SHALL
FORMALIZE  THE  RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE STUDENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE
PARENTS, GUARDIAN OR GUARDIANS, AND, THE WORK PLACEMENT REPRESENTATIVE.
  D. THE PARENTS, GUARDIAN OR GUARDIANS  OF  A  STUDENT  WHO  AGREES  TO
PARTICIPATE  IN THIS PROGRAM MUST ALSO SIGN A CONTRACT AGREEING TO REIN-
FORCE A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND IMPROVEMENT IN  ACADEMIC  AND  WORK-
PLACE ACHIEVEMENT AT HOME.
  E.  EACH  STUDENT  PARTICIPATING  IN THIS PROGRAM SHALL, TO THE EXTENT
PRACTICAL, BE ASSIGNED A WORKPLACE MENTOR. SUCH MENTOR  SHALL  AGREE  TO
ASSIST  THE  STUDENT IN DEVELOPING HABITS AND SKILLS NEEDED FOR SUCCESS.
SUCH ASSISTANCE WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED  TO  IDENTIFYING  CAREER
GOALS  AND  HELPING  THE  STUDENT LINK HIS OR HER ACADEMIC AND WORKPLACE
SUCCESS TO MEETING THESE  GOALS,  DEVELOPING  POSITIVE  WORK  AND  STUDY
HABITS,  OVERCOMING  OBSTACLES TO LEARNING, AND SERVING AS POSITIVE ROLE
MODELS. ALL PERSONS AGREEING TO ACT AS WORKPLACE MENTORS SHALL BE TREAT-
ED AS SCHOOL EMPLOYEES FOR THE PURPOSE  OF  BEING  SUBJECT  TO  CRIMINAL
BACKGROUND CHECKS. PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT THE COST OF ALL SUCH BACKGROUND
CHECKS SHALL BE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE.
  F.  ALL  PARTICIPATING  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS SHALL RECEIVE A ONE THOUSAND
DOLLAR GRANT PER PARTICIPATING STUDENT FUNDED BY NEW  YORK  STATE.  SUCH
GRANT  IS  CONDITIONED UPON EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT'S ABIDANCE BY THE
PARTNERSHIP CONTRACT.  ALL  PARTICIPATING  BUSINESSES  SHALL  RECEIVE  A
CORPORATE  FRANCHISE TAX DEDUCTION FOR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTIC-
IPATION IN THE PARTNERSHIP PLAN.
  S 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 9 of section 208 of the tax  law  is
amended by adding a new subparagraph 18 to read as follows:
  (18)  IN  THE  CASE OF A TAXPAYER PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PLAN AS ESTABLISHED IN SUBDIVISION SIX OF  SECTION
FORTY-SIX  HUNDRED  TWO  OF THE EDUCATION LAW, ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.
  S 3. This act shall  take  effect  on  the  first  of  September  next
succeeding  the  date  on  which  it  shall have become a law; provided,
however, that effective  immediately,  the  addition,  amendment  and/or
repeal  of  any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized and directed  to  be  made
and completed on or before such effective date.