S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
982
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 8, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, BRAUNSTEIN, STECK, TITONE, CLARK, HOOP-
ER, JAFFEE, SCARBOROUGH, GRAF, MONTESANO, McLAUGHLIN, WALTER, PALUMBO,
TENNEY, SALADINO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, CROUCH,
DUPREY, MAGEE, PERRY, RIVERA, ROBINSON, WRIGHT -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the parent's right to
know of allegations of inappropriate conduct by a school district
employee, volunteer or administrator
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 article 23-C
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 23-C
PARENT'S RIGHT TO KNOW ACT
SECTION 1134. SHORT TITLE.
1135. DEFINITIONS.
1136. PARENT'S RIGHT TO KNOW.
S 1134. SHORT TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS
THE "PARENT'S RIGHT TO KNOW ACT".
S 1135. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE THE FOLLOWING
TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
1. "EMPLOYEE" SHALL MEAN A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ACTING IN HIS OR HER
CAPACITY AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AS WELL AS ANY PERSON RECEIVING
COMPENSATION FROM A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR EMPLOYEE OF A CONTRACTED SERVICE
PROVIDER OR WORKER PLACED WITHIN THE SCHOOL UNDER A PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO TITLE NINE-B OF ARTICLE FIVE OF THE
SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, AND CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH TITLE
FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO SUCH DISTRICT, ITS STUDENTS OR EMPLOY-
EES, DIRECTLY OR THROUGH CONTRACT, WHEREBY SUCH SERVICES PERFORMED BY
SUCH PERSON INVOLVE DIRECT STUDENT CONTACT.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01530-01-5
A. 982 2
2. "VOLUNTEER" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON, OTHER THAN AN EMPLOYEE, WHO
PROVIDES SERVICES TO A SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH INVOLVE DIRECT
STUDENT CONTACT.
3. "ADMINISTRATOR" OR "SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR" SHALL MEAN A PRINCIPAL,
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, SUPERINTENDENT OR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF A
PUBLIC SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL OR BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES, OR OTHER CHIEF SCHOOL OFFICER.
S 1136. PARENT'S RIGHT TO KNOW. EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR ANY
OTHER SCHOOL WHICH PRIMARILY SERVES PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN
AND WHICH IS REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF
THE ENACTMENT OF THIS SECTION, ADOPT A POLICY WHICH SHALL PROVIDE FOR
NOTIFICATION AS SOON AS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE TO A PARENT OR LEGAL
GUARDIAN OF AN AFFECTED STUDENT OR STUDENTS OF INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT BY
AN EMPLOYEE, VOLUNTEER OR ADMINISTRATOR OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH
RESPECT TO A PARTICULAR STUDENT OR STUDENTS IN THE EVENT THAT THE SUPER-
INTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL BOARD, OR ANY MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL
BOARD ACTING WITH THE AUTHORIZATION OF SUCH BOARD, SUCH AUTHORIZATION TO
HAVE BEEN PROVIDED DURING AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, PROVIDES A WRITTEN
CENSURE, REPRIMAND, OR OTHERWISE IN WRITING ADVISES AN EMPLOYEE, VOLUN-
TEER, OR AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF SUCH PERSON'S INAP-
PROPRIATE CONDUCT WITH RESPECT TO A PARTICULAR STUDENT OR STUDENTS.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
this act shall not impair any provision of a collective bargaining
agreement in effect prior to the effective date of this act which is
contradictory to the provisions of this act. Any such provisions shall
expire no later than on such agreements existing expiration date.