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

                                  8043

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 17, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. NOLAN -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the  state  office  of
  religious and independent schools establishment act

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

  Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature recognizes
that religious and independent schools play a vital role in  the  educa-
tion  of  children  within the many communities throughout the state and
that is is incumbent on the  state  to  continue  to  support  New  York
students  who  attend  these schools. The legislature further recognizes
that while religious and independent school students are included in  an
array  of state and federal programs intended to benefit students in all
schools including, but not limited to, instructional  materials,  school
health and safety measures, academic intervention, professional develop-
ment  and  transportation services, the administration of those programs
falls most often to the public school districts in which such  religious
or independent schools are located or the school districts in which such
religious  and  independent school students reside. The legislature also
recognizes the substantial administrative burden placed on public school
districts charged with administering services  for  students  over  whom
such  districts  have  little  direct  responsibility.  The  legislature
further  recognizes  the  inefficiencies  that  exist  in  administering
programs   to  benefit  students  attending  religious  and  independent
schools. Therefore, the legislature recognizes the need  to  create  the
state  office  for  religious and independent schools for the purpose of
providing  an  efficient  and  cost-effective  means  of   administering
programs  and  services  to  benefit  students enrolled in religious and
independent schools.
  S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 12-B to read
as follows:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10879-03-3
              

A. 8043                             2

                              ARTICLE 12-B
            STATE OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
SECTION 571. SHORT TITLE.
        572. STATE OFFICE FOR RELIGIOUS AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.
        573. RULES AND REGULATIONS.
  S  571.  SHORT  TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS
THE "STATE OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS  AND  INDEPENDENT  SCHOOLS  ESTABLISHMENT
ACT".
  S  572.  STATE  OFFICE  FOR  RELIGIOUS AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. 1. THE
STATE OFFICE FOR RELIGIOUS AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE AND COORDINATE SERVICES AND  ADMINISTER
STATE  AND  FEDERAL  PROGRAMS AND APPROPRIATIONS AS MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY
THE COMMISSIONER INTENDED FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS AND  PERSONNEL  IN
RELIGIOUS  AND  INDEPENDENT  SCHOOLS  AND TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND
CARRY OUT OTHER ACTIVITIES INTENDED FOR  THE  BENEFIT  OF  STUDENTS  AND
PERSONNEL IN RELIGIOUS AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.
  2.  THE  DEPARTMENT, ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE, SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY
TO ACCEPT AND RECEIVE ANY GRANTS, AWARDS, APPROPRIATIONS OR OTHER  FUNDS
AS  MAY  BE MADE AVAILABLE TO CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE. ALL
SUCH FUNDS RECEIVED BY OR OTHERWISE MADE  AVAILABLE  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT
SHALL  BE  HELD  IN  A  DISTINCT ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS ADMINISTERED BY THE
DEPARTMENT TO CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE.
  3. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL UTILIZE A PORTION OF  STATE  AND/OR  FEDERAL
FUNDS  APPROPRIATED  SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF RELIGIOUS AND INDEPENDENT
SCHOOLS FOR PERSONNEL SERVICES NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE  FUNCTIONS  OF
THE OFFICE.
  S  573.  RULES  AND  REGULATIONS.  THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROMULGATE ANY
RULES OR REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTI-
CLE.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that  any  rules
or  regulations  necessary  for  the implementation of this act shall be
promulgated and take effect 180 days after such effective date.