Assembly Bill A10685

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10685
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              August 28, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Novakhov) --
   read once and referred to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to reporting requirements
   regarding  financial expenditures related to certain teacher discipli-
   nary proceedings
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "3020-a arbitration process reporting act".
   § 2. Legislative findings and declaration of purpose.  It  is  in  the
 public  interest to ensure transparency and accountability in the finan-
 cial expenditures of  school  districts  in  cities  with  a  population
 exceeding  250,000  that  have  a  collective  bargaining agreement. The
 3020-a arbitration process, as established under section 3020-a  of  the
 education  law,  involves significant financial expenditures that should
 be disclosed to ensure responsible fiscal management. The  citizens  and
 elected  officials  of such cities have a right to be informed about the
 financial aspects of the 3020-a arbitration process  to  promote  public
 trust  and informed decision-making. Further, detailed financial report-
 ing can help identify  trends,  inefficiencies,  and  opportunities  for
 reform  in  the  arbitration process and transparency in the arbitration
 process can contribute to better  labor  relations  and  more  effective
 governance.
   §  3.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 3020-b to
 read as follows:
   § 3020-B. ARBITRATION PROCESS REPORTING. 1. ANY CITY  SCHOOL  DISTRICT
 IN  A  CITY  WITH A POPULATION EXCEEDING TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND THAT
 HAS A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT SHALL PREPARE AN  ANNUAL  ITEMIZED
 FINANCIAL  REPORT  ON  THE  ARBITRATION  PROCESS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
 SECTION THREE THOUSAND TWENTY-A OF THIS ARTICLE.
   2. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   A. EVERY CASE PROCESSED PURSUANT TO  THE  ARBITRATION  PROCESS  ESTAB-
 LISHED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION THREE THOUSAND TWENTY-A OF THIS ARTICLE IN
 SUCH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15930-01-4
 A. 10685                            2
 
   B. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON EACH CASE, ITEMIZED BY EXPENSE CATEGO-
 RY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LEGAL FEES, ARBITRATOR FEES, AND ADMIN-
 ISTRATIVE COSTS;
   C. THE DURATION OF EACH CASE;
   D. THE SPECIFIC CHARGES BROUGHT IN EACH CASE;
   E. THE FINAL RESOLUTION OR OUTCOME OF EACH CASE; AND
   F. A SUMMARY PAGE, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (I)  THE  TOTAL  NUMBER OF CASES PROCESSED PURSUANT TO THE ARBITRATION
 PROCESS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION THREE THOUSAND TWENTY-A OF  THIS
 ARTICLE IN SUCH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR;
   (II) THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT PER CASE;
   (III) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON ALL CASES;
   (IV) THE AVERAGE DURATION OF EACH CASE;
   (V) THE TYPES OF CHARGES BROUGHT IN SUCH CASES; AND
   (VI)  THE  NUMBER OF CASES THAT RESULTED IN A PARTICULAR RESOLUTION OR
 OUTCOME.
   3. A. NO LATER THAN  MARCH  FIRST  OF  EACH  YEAR,  EACH  CITY  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT  REQUIRED TO PREPARE SUCH REPORT PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF
 THIS SECTION SHALL SUBMIT SUCH REPORT TO THE COMPTROLLER,  THE  ASSEMBLY
 WAYS  AND MEANS COMMITTEE, THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND ALL MEMBERS
 OF THE ASSEMBLY OR SENATE REPRESENTING EACH SUCH CITY.
   B. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE OF EACH
 SUCH CITY AND THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.
   4. A. THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE  AND  THE  SENATE  FINANCE
 COMMITTEE  SHALL  HOLD  ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARINGS TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE
 ANNUAL REPORTS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. SUCH  PUBLIC  HEARINGS
 SHALL  ALLOW  FOR  PUBLIC  INPUT  AND COMMENTARY ON THE FINDINGS OF SUCH
 REPORTS.
   B. THE ASSEMBLY WAYS  AND  MEANS  COMMITTEE  AND  THE  SENATE  FINANCE
 COMMITTEE  SHALL  ISSUE ANNUAL SUMMARIES OF THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDA-
 TIONS CONTAINED IN SUCH ANNUAL REPORTS  AND  DISCUSSED  AT  SUCH  ANNUAL
 PUBLIC HEARINGS.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.