Senate Bill S997

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S997

SPONSOR: YOUNG
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing for state
apportionments to school districts sending and receiving pupils pursuant
to a contract system

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To amend the Education Law to allow school districts participating in a
contract system to receive incentive operating aid.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the Education Law by adding a new section 2046, which
would allow school districts participating in a contract system to
receive one-half each of the incentive operating aid a reorganized
district would receive, pursuant to paragraphs d and d-1 of subdivision
fourteen of section thirty-six hundred two of the Education Law.
              

Section 2 provides that this act shall take effect on the first of July
next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State public school enrollment continues to decline, especially
in rural areas. According to the New York State Education Department, in
1998-1999, there were 2,808,395 students enrolled in public schools. By
2012-2013, enrollment had declined to 2,579,011 students. This repres-
ents an 8.2k decrease in enrollment statewide.  Western New York and the
Southern Tier in particular continue to see sharp declines, with some
schools losing as much as 7 percent of their student bodies over a
three-year period.

With the continuing decline in enrollment, school districts are looking
for new ways to provide the best possible educational experience for
their students. This bill simply authorizes school districts participat-
ing in a contract system to receive incentive operating aid. This will
allow schools to explore more efficient ways of operating while also
providing their students with access to more educational opportunities.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017,2018: S.528 REFERRED TO EDUCATION
2015,2016: S.2771 REFERRED TO EDUCATION

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect the first of July next succeeding the date it
shall have become a law.