S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2659
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 19, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FALL -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT establishing a New York state school transition reopening and
redesign task force during a national or state pandemic or state of
emergency; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the
expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. New York state school transition reopening and redesign
taskforce. The New York state school transition reopening and redesign
taskforce is hereby established to study and make recommendations
concerning the reopening of New York schools during the novel coronavi-
rus (COVID-19) state disaster emergency, as declared pursuant to execu-
tive order number 202 of 2020.
§ 2. Such task force shall be comprised of school administrators,
teachers and agency commissioners or deputy commissioners and consist of
twelve members appointed as follows:
(a) two members shall be appointed by the governor; one of these
members shall serve as chair of the task force; and the other member
shall serve as vice chair of the task force;
(b) one member shall be appointed by the temporary president of the
senate;
(c) one member shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
(d) two members shall be appointed by the New York State Board of
Regents;
(e) two members shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the New York
State Education Department;
(f) two members shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the New York
State Department of Health;
(g) one member shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the New York
State Office of Mental Health; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06204-01-1
A. 2659 2
(h) one member shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Depart-
ment of Taxation and Finance.
§ 3. All appointments shall be made no later than the thirtieth day
after the effective date of this section. Vacancies in the membership of
the task force shall be filled in the same manner provided for by the
original appointments. The task force shall organize as soon as practi-
cable following the appointment of its members. The chair shall appoint
a secretary who shall not be a member of the task force. The members of
the task force shall receive no compensation for their services.
§ 4. (a) The task force shall study, evaluate and develop recommenda-
tions relating to specific actionable measures that address the follow-
ing areas:
(i) the measures necessary to successfully implement a safe return to
school for students, faculty and administration in accordance with
guidelines promulgated by the Centers for Disease Control;
(ii) safe transportation of students to and from school;
(iii) the emotional and social components of education provided at a
school's physical facility, through remote learning or a combination of
both;
(iv) the impact of state and federal funding on school resources;
(v) the impact on a school district's ability to provide students with
meals at a school's physical facility or during remote learning; and
(vi) any other issue the task force deems relevant.
(b) The task force shall designate four regional committees to operate
throughout the state. One such committee shall be located in and focus
on the city of New York. Each committee shall consist of six members
selected by the task force chair from local school administrators,
teachers, certified school social workers and PTA presidents.
§ 5. The task force shall be entitled to request and receive, and
shall utilize such facilities, resources and data of any court, depart-
ment, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any
political subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request to properly
carry out its powers and duties.
§ 6. In carrying out its functions, the task force is authorized to
conduct public hearings around the state to foster discussions in
accordance with article seven of the public officers law, and formal
public hearings to solicit input and recommendations from statewide and
regional stakeholder interests.
§ 7. The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to
the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the
assembly, the temporary president of the senate and the minority leader
of the senate three months after the effective date of this act.
§ 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed sixty days after the task force delivers the report
described in section seven of this act to the governor, the speaker of
the assembly, the minority leader of the assembly, the temporary presi-
dent of the senate and the minority leader of the senate.