S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  229--A
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 9, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. STIRPE -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on  Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted
   as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation
   to enacting the "VIP program"; and making an appropriation therefor
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  This  act  shall  be  known  and may be cited as the "VIP
 program".
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new  section  3641-c  to
 read as follows:
   §  3641-C.  VIRTUAL INCLUSION PLAN GRANT PROGRAM.  1. THE COMMISSIONER
 SHALL ESTABLISH A PROGRAM OF COMPETITIVELY  AWARDED  GRANTS  WITHIN  THE
 AMOUNT  IN  THE  VIRTUAL  INCLUSION  PLAN  GRANT  FUND ESTABLISHED UNDER
 SECTION NINETY-SEVEN-TTTT OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW EACH YEAR  TO  PUBLIC
 SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  TO PURCHASE TECHNOLOGY WHICH WOULD ENABLE STUDENTS TO
 PARTICIPATE IN CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES  REMOTELY  IF  A  MEDICAL  CONDITION
 PRECLUDES THEM FROM ATTENDING IN-PERSON CLASSROOM SESSIONS.
   2.  FOR  A  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  DISTRICT TO QUALIFY FOR A GRANT UNDER THIS
 PROGRAM, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PROMULGATE A REMOTE  CLASSROOM
 VIRTUAL INCLUSION POLICY WHICH ESTABLISHES GUIDELINES FOR WHEN A STUDENT
 WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE CLASSROOM VIRTUAL INCLUSION TEACHING DUE TO
 A  MEDICAL  CONDITION.  THE POLICY SHOULD ALSO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
 RULES AND REGULATIONS SET FORTH BY THE COMMISSIONER AS WELL AS  LAWS  AS
 THEY PERTAIN TO CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS.
   3.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  PROMULGATE ANY NECESSARY RULES AND REGU-
 LATIONS FOR THE APPLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ANY  FUNDS  PURSUANT  TO
 THIS SECTION.
   §  3. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-tttt
 to read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00504-02-9

 A. 229--A                           2
 
   § 97-TTTT. VIRTUAL INCLUSION PLAN  GRANT  FUND.  1.  THERE  IS  HEREBY
 ESTABLISHED  IN  THE  JOINT CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND
 THE COMPTROLLER A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE "VIRTUAL INCLUSION PLAN  GRANT
 FUND".
   2.  THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONIES APPROPRIATED FOR ITS PURPOSE,
 AND ALL MONIES REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION OR ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO
 BE PAID INTO OR CREDITED TO SUCH FUND. THE FUND SHALL  NOT  CONTAIN  ANY
 MONIES WHICH ARE NOT INTENDED FOR THE FUND.
   3.  MONIES OF THE FUND, WHEN ALLOCATED, SHALL BE AVAILABLE PURSUANT TO
 SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED FORTY-ONE-C OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
   4. MONIES SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM THE FUND ON THE AUDIT AND  WARRANT  OF
 THE  STATE COMPTROLLER ON VOUCHERS APPROVED AND CERTIFIED BY THE COMMIS-
 SIONER OF EDUCATION.
   § 4. The sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), or  so  much
 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of
 education out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to
 the  credit  of  the virtual inclusion plan grant program, not otherwise
 appropriated, and made immediately available, for the purpose of  carry-
 ing  out the provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the
 audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified  or  approved
 by the commissioner of education in the manner prescribed by law.
   § 5. This act shall take effect April 1, 2021.