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

                                 5976--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              March 9, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. CRESPO, JAFFEE, SCHIMEL, PICHARDO, QUART, FINCH,
  LINARES -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GARBARINO,  HOOPER,  JOYNER,
  SALADINO,  SEAWRIGHT  --  read  once  and referred to the Committee on
  Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Education  in  accordance
  with  Assembly  Rule  3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended,
  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT establishing the school energy efficiency program

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

  Section  1.  Legislative intent. At a cost annually of over $1 billion
dollars in utility costs, the energy costs for  public  schools  in  New
York  need  to be addressed to reduce such escalating costs and to allow
for a redirection of such expenditures to improve  academic  performance
in our state. The legislature therefore finds that New York state should
conduct  a  review of the project approval process to determine how best
to expedite the start of construction and implementation of school ener-
gy efficiency projects. Currently, energy projects are reviewed  by  the
same  group  at  the  New  York  state education department that is also
responsible for reviewing critical school district capital projects. The
process review should focus on how a higher priority might be  given  to
energy  efficiency  projects  while  at  the  same  time  ensuring  that
mission-critical capital projects are not delayed. Pursuing all cost-ef-
fective energy efficiency in New York state schools  will  require  that
many more projects will need to be approved annually than have ever been
in  the  past.  A  streamlined,  transparent,  and  efficient review and
approval process is a necessary component  of  an  increased  effort  to
promote energy efficiency projects in schools.
  S  2.  School  energy  efficiency  program. 1. Establishment. There is
hereby established the school  energy  efficiency  program.  Under  this
program,  the  department  shall  construct a proposal to streamline the

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05775-03-6

              

A. 5976--A                          2

approval process for eligible  entities  pursuing  the  installation  of
energy efficiency projects.
  2. Proposal requirements. The department through this program shall:
  a. demonstrate how energy efficiency project approval requests will be
processed separately from all other capital improvement applications;
  b. set a specific date for when the streamlined approval process shall
be in place; and
  c.  determine  if  any  legislative  action  is  necessary to make the
streamlined approval process operational.
  3. Report. The department shall report its findings,  conclusions  and
recommendations  to  the governor, majority leader of the senate and the
speaker of the assembly by January 1, 2018.
  4. Definitions. For purposes of this program the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
  a. "Department" shall mean the New York state education department.
  b. "Eligible entity" shall mean any  public  elementary  or  secondary
school located in New York state.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.