S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8649
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 10, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. GOODELL -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Education
 
 AN ACT to legalize, validate, ratify and  confirm  the  actions  of  the
   Panama  central  school district notwithstanding the failure to timely
   file final building cost reports with the education department
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
 all  acts done and proceedings heretofore had and taken, or caused to be
 had or taken, by the Panama central school district and by  any  of  its
 officers or agents relating to or in connection with final building cost
 reports  required to be filed with the education department for approved
 building projects completed prior to December 31,  2012,  and  all  acts
 incidental   thereto  are  hereby  legalized,  validated,  ratified  and
 confirmed, notwithstanding any failure to comply with the time  require-
 ments for the approval and filing provisions of the education law or any
 other  provision  of law, rule or regulation, relating to any omissions,
 error, defect, irregularity or illegality in such  proceedings  had  and
 taken.
   §  2. Notwithstanding section 24-a of part A of chapter 57 of the laws
 of 2013, and consistent with section one of this act,  the  commissioner
 of  education  shall not recover from the Panama central school district
 any penalty arising from the late filing of a final cost report pursuant
 to section 31 of part A of chapter 57 of the laws of 2012, provided that
 any amounts already so recovered shall be deemed a payment of moneys due
 for prior years pursuant to paragraph c of subdivision 5 of section 3604
 of the education law and shall be paid  to  the  Panama  central  school
 district pursuant to such provision, provided that such school district:
   (a)  submitted  the  late or missing final building cost report to the
 commissioner of education;
   (b) such cost report is approved by the commissioner of education;
   (c) all state funds expended by the school district, as documented  in
 such  cost  report,  were properly expended for such building project in
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13859-01-1
              

 A. 8649                             2
 
 accordance with the terms and conditions for such project as approved by
 the commissioner of education; and
   (d)  the failure to submit such report in a timely manner was an inad-
 vertent administrative or ministerial oversight by the school  district,
 and  there  is no evidence of any fraudulent or other improper intent by
 such district.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.