S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2387
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 18, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to a board of cooperative
educational services school district restructuring committee
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 1950 of the education law is
amended by adding a new paragraph oo to read as follows:
OO. TO ESTABLISH, BY NO LATER THAN OCTOBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIR-
TEEN, A BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SCHOOL DISTRICT
RESTRUCTURING COMMITTEE TO STUDY AND REVIEW THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERA-
TION OF ALL COMPONENT AND NON-COMPONENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE AREA
SERVED BY THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, OTHER THAN
SCHOOL DISTRICTS FORMED BY SPECIAL ACT AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN CITIES
HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION INHABITANTS OR MORE.
(1) SUCH COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE AT LEAST TEN BUT NO MORE THAN
TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING SCHOOL
BOARDS, SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND
PARENTS IN THE AREA SERVED BY THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES. THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE CHAIRED BY THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
OF SCHOOLS OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, AND SHALL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF
PARENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPER-
INTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER INTERESTED CITIZENS, SUCH AS REPRESEN-
TATIVES OF CIVIC AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION. A MAJORITY OF THE WHOLE NUMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS AND
APPROVAL OF AT LEAST A MAJORITY OF THE WHOLE NUMBER SHALL BE REQUIRED
FOR ACTION BY THE COMMITTEE. ALL COMMITTEE MEETINGS SHALL BE OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC. THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONDUCT AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC HEARING IN THE
AREA SERVED BY THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ON OR
BEFORE JUNE FIFTEENTH, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY AND
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE POTENTIAL FOR COST SAVINGS AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00623-01-1
A. 2387 2
SERVICES THROUGH SHARED OR CONSOLIDATED SERVICES AND SCHOOL DISTRICT
REORGANIZATIONS.
(2) SUCH COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW CURRENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ORGANIZATION,
ENROLLMENTS AND FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE OPPOR-
TUNITIES FOR COSTS SAVINGS AND IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICES THROUGH RESTRUC-
TURING OF SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNCTIONS AS WELL AS SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGAN-
IZATION, AND BY OCTOBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN SHALL ISSUE A
PRELIMINARY WRITTEN REPORT DESCRIBING ITS FINDINGS ON THE POTENTIAL FOR
CONSOLIDATION AND SHARING OF SERVICES WITHIN THE AREA SERVED BY THE
BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND RECOMMENDING ANY SPECIFIC
STUDIES OF SHARED OR CONSOLIDATED SERVICES THAT THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND/OR TRUSTEES OR BOARDS OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL
DISTRICTS IN THE AREA SERVED BY THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES SHOULD UNDERTAKE. SUCH PRELIMINARY REPORT SHALL ALSO CONTAIN
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STUDIES OF POTENTIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGANIZATIONS
OR SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER AND AFFECTED SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ON POTENTIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD ASSURE
THE MOST EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES IN
THE REGION AND THE BEST EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN IN THE
AREA. THE TRUSTEES OR BOARDS OF EDUCATION OF THE AFFECTED SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND THE BOARDS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SHALL
CONSIDER UNDERTAKING ANY SUCH STUDIES RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE AND
APPLYING FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY GRANTS OR
OTHER STATE FUNDING SOURCES.
(3) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, THE COMMITTEE
SHALL ISSUE A FINAL REPORT CONTAINING ITS FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON SHAR-
ING OR CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES AND SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
COMMISSIONER AND AFFECTED SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGAN-
IZATIONS.
(4) IN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGANIZATION, THE
COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIDER CURRENT AND PROJECTED ENROLLMENTS OF EXISTING
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE IMPACT OF POTENTIAL REORGANIZATIONS ON COSTS
AND PROPERTY TAX BURDEN IN THE AFFECTED SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AS WELL AS ANY
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS RESULTING FROM REORGANIZATION. FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF
A RECOMMENDATION FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGANIZATION FROM SUCH COMMITTEE,
THE COMMISSIONER SHALL EITHER: (I) RETURN THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR RECONSIDERATION BASED ON THE COMMITTEE'S FAILURE TO DEMON-
STRATE THAT THE REORGANIZATION WILL RESULT IN EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL
DELIVERY OF SERVICES OR WOULD BE IN THE BEST EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF
STUDENTS OR BECAUSE THE PROPOSED REORGANIZATION CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED
WITHOUT A CHANGE IN LAW; OR (II) APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION AND ORDER
ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE STATE PLAN FOR REORGANIZATION PURSUANT TO SUBDIVI-
SION TWO OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER THAT WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT SUCH RECOMMENDATION, AND THEREAFTER ISSUE ANY
FURTHER ORDERS NECESSARY TO INITIATE THE REORGANIZATION RECOMMENDED BY
THE COMMITTEE.
(5) THE DEPARTMENT, THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND
THE TRUSTEES OR BOARDS OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE AREA
SERVED BY THE BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SHALL COMPLY
WITH REASONABLE REQUESTS BY THE COMMITTEE FOR DATA AND INFORMATION NEED-
ED TO CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ENROLLMENT
PROJECTIONS, FINANCIAL INFORMATION, INFORMATION ON FACILITIES, INFORMA-
TION ON PAST STUDIES OR EXAMPLES OF SHARING OF SERVICES OR SCHOOL
DISTRICT REORGANIZATIONS, RELEVANT RESEARCH OR REPORTS AND INFORMATION
ON LAWS OR PROGRAMS THAT MAY BE RELEVANT. THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS SHALL REGULARLY REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER ON PROGRESS BEING
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MADE BY THE COMMITTEE, AND THE INFORMATION SO REPORTED SHALL BE SUMMA-
RIZED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO INTERESTED PARTIES AND SHALL BE POSTED ON
THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE. THE PRELIMINARY AND FINAL REPORTS OF EACH
COMMITTEE SHALL ALSO BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE. THE COMMIS-
SIONER SHALL SUMMARIZE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REGIONAL SCHOOLS RESTRUC-
TURING COMMITTEES AND REPORT TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE GOVERNOR WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE RECEIPT OF THE FINAL REPORTS
FROM THE COMMITTEES.
S 2. Subdivision 6 of section 314 of the education law, as amended by
chapter 163 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as follows:
6. A. Whenever any school district scheduled for reorganization pursu-
ant to the state plan of reorganization as herein established has not
consolidated or reorganized in accordance therewith within two years
after the entry of an order pursuant to subdivision two [herein] OF THIS
SECTION establishing such final plan of reorganization for the affected
district or districts, or has failed within such time after receipt of
such notice to institute a proceeding for a change in accordance with
this section, or is unable to show that such district has adopted a
resolution or resolutions in accordance with sections eighteen hundred
one through eighteen hundred three, fifteen hundred ten through fifteen
hundred thirteen, fifteen hundred twenty-two and fifteen hundred twen-
ty-three, fifteen hundred twenty-four or fifteen hundred twenty-six of
this chapter in favor of such reorganization or that in the case of an
order of dissolution and annexation, such district has not asked for a
referendum pursuant to subdivision two of section eighteen hundred two
OF THIS CHAPTER, and is being prevented from reorganizing by the action
of another district which is part of the same plan of reorganization, OR
THAT THE VOTERS OF SUCH DISTRICT HAVE FAILED TO APPROVE A REFERENDUM
SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER
AS A RESULT OF A RECOMMENDATION IN THE FINAL REPORT OF A BOARD OF COOP-
ERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SCHOOL DISTRICT RESTRUCTURING COMMITTEE,
commencing with the school year following the school year in which the
two-year period expired, such school district shall not be eligible to
receive any building aid exceeding the building aid which such district
would be entitled to receive in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the education law in existence on July first, nineteen
hundred sixty-five until such reorganization shall take place, except
for such additional amounts as may be computed as due on debt service
already incurred[; provided] OR TO BE INCURRED ON PROJECTS APPROVED BY
THE VOTERS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF SUCH
ORDER OR FOR CAPITAL OUTLAYS OR DEBT SERVICE INCURRED AFTER THE EFFEC-
TIVE DATE OF SUCH ORDER TO THE EXTENT AUTHORIZED BY PARAGRAPH C OF THIS
SUBDIVISION.
B. WHERE AN ORDER ISSUED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION
IS A RESULT OF A RECOMMENDATION IN THE FINAL REPORT OF A BOARD OF COOP-
ERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SCHOOL DISTRICT RESTRUCTURING COMMITTEE, NO
BUILDING AID SHALL BE PAYABLE ON NEW PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS OF
ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT AFFECTED BY SUCH ORDER UNTIL THE RECOMMENDED REOR-
GANIZATION TAKES PLACE, EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY PARAGRAPH C OF THIS
SUBDIVISION.
C. PROVIDED, however, that nothing contained in this subdivision shall
prevent the apportionment of building aid for construction, recon-
struction, alterations of or additions to school building facilities for
the use of grades kindergarten through [eight] TWELVE, provided the
commissioner shall find that: (1) existing facilities are obsolete or
inadequate; and (2)(I) that the construction for which aid is sought
A. 2387 4
would be capable of substantial educational use by the reorganized
district in the event that the reorganization under the existing plan
for reorganization is effected; OR (II) THE PROJECT FOR WHICH AID IS
SOUGHT ON CAPITAL OUTLAYS OR DEBT SERVICE IS A CONSTRUCTION EMERGENCY
PROJECT AS DEFINED IN CLAUSE (C) OF SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF PARAGRAPH B OF
SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
S 3. Paragraph a of subdivision 14 of section 3602 of the education
law, as added by chapter 57 of the laws of 1993, is amended to read as
follows:
a. District subject to reorganization. (1) No apportionments pursuant
to subdivision six of this section shall be paid to any school district
which is scheduled for reorganization pursuant to the state plan for
school district reorganization, unless there shall have been compliance
with this paragraph.
(2) In order to obtain an apportionment under subdivision six of this
section for a district scheduled for reorganization and not reorganized,
such district shall file with the commissioner a formal written applica-
tion therefor, (a) showing (i) inadequacy or obsolescence of present
facilities, and (ii) that such construction for which such apportionment
is sought would be capable of substantial educational use by the reor-
ganized district in case the reorganization under the existing plan of
reorganization is effected, and that it will provide more efficient and
more economical educational facilities for such reorganized district in
the best educational interests of the children in the reorganized school
district; or (b) showing that: (I) such district has adopted a resol-
ution or resolutions in accordance with sections eighteen hundred one
through eighteen hundred three of this chapter in favor of such reorgan-
ization OR THE VOTERS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE VOTED IN FAVOR OF A
REORGANIZATION WHICH WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE FINAL REPORT OF A BOARD OF
COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SCHOOL DISTRICT RESTRUCTURING COMMIT-
TEE; and (II) SUCH DISTRICT is being prevented from reorganizing by the
action of another district which is part of the same plan of reorganiza-
tion; OR (C) THE PROJECT FOR WHICH AID IS SOUGHT ON CAPITAL OUTLAYS OR
DEBT SERVICE IS A CONSTRUCTION EMERGENCY PROJECT AS DEFINED IN CLAUSE
(C) OF SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF PARAGRAPH B OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION
THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED TWO OF THIS CHAPTER. The commissioner shall within
ninety days grant such apportionment or deny such apportionment with
leave to the district to petition for a formal hearing. Such hearing
shall be held pursuant to the procedures provided in subdivision three
of section three hundred fourteen of this chapter.
(3) (a) Within sixty days after such hearing is concluded and all
papers in relation thereto are submitted, the commissioner shall render
a preliminary finding recommending whether a change is warranted,
setting forth [his] THE COMMISSIONER'S findings and conclusions which
shall be based exclusively on the evidence presented at the hearing. The
commissioner shall recommend the amendment or confirmation of the state
plan in accordance with his preliminary finding by a report made by him
and entered in [his] THE COMMISSIONER'S office. The commissioner shall
serve a copy of such preliminary finding upon the clerk or in the event
that there is no clerk, the trustee or trustees of the school districts
located in the affected area or areas. In the event that such districts
do not agree with such preliminary findings, the school districts
affected by the terms of such preliminary finding may within thirty days
apply to the chancellor of the board of regents for the appointment of a
committee of the regents to review the proposed amendment or confirma-
tion of the state plan. In the event that an application to the chancel-
A. 2387 5
lor is not made within thirty days for the appointment of a committee of
the regents, the preliminary finding shall become an order without
further action of the commissioner.
(b) Upon receipt of such application, the chancellor shall appoint a
committee of three members of the regents, one of whom shall be a regent
whose judicial district includes all or part of the areas affected. The
committee of regents shall review the proposed amendment or confirmation
of the state plan. In the event the committee is unable to resolve the
differences between the commissioner and such school districts, it shall
within sixty days from the date of the appointment of such committee,
make an order reversing, affirming, or modifying, wholly or in part,
such preliminary finding of the commissioner and amending or confirming
the state plan setting forth the committee's findings and conclusions
which shall be based exclusively on the evidence presented at the
commissioner's hearing and any additional evidence presented at the
committee's review. The committee shall have the discretion to permit
additional evidence to be presented by any party. The commissioner shall
serve a copy of such order upon the clerk or in the event there is no
clerk, the trustee or trustees of the school districts located in the
affected area or areas.
(c) Such order of the committee of the regents shall be binding and
final and subject to review pursuant to article seventy-eight of the
civil practice law and rules. The scope of review shall include the
question whether the determination is on the entire record supported by
substantial evidence.
(d) The commissioner shall establish and promulgate rules of practice
and procedures in connection with such hearings, shall provide for the
attendance of the hearing officer, regulate the course of the hearing,
fix the time for filing of briefs and other documents, provide a hearing
stenographer and for the making of a record as well as the making of a
full transcript of all proceedings at the hearing and shall at the
request of any party, school district or interested person have prepared
and furnish a copy of the transcript or any party thereof upon payment
of the costs therefor.
(e) School districts designated in the established plan by an order of
the committee of the regents shall be made parties by the petitioning
district. Districts which may be affected by the proposed change may
join or be joined in such proceeding by the commissioner or any party.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs one through three
of this paragraph, any such district which has qualified for an appor-
tionment for school building purposes, under laws in effect prior to the
date this act takes effect, shall receive an apportionment under subdi-
vision six of this section; and provided, further, that no new appor-
tionment shall be paid and the commissioner shall not approve any new
expenditures for school building purposes in any such district after
such date, except where the commissioner has made a determination as
herein provided.
(5) Nothing herein provided shall prevent a school district which has
heretofore been denied an apportionment subsequent to July first, nine-
teen hundred sixty-two from making an application hereunder, except that
any such apportionment which may be granted shall not be retroactive
beyond July first, nineteen hundred sixty-two.
S 4. This act shall take effect on the first of October next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.