S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1866
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 23, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, SEAWRIGHT -- read once and referred
   to the Committee on Education
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the public authorities law and the education law, in
   relation to establishing a climate change education grant program; and
   to amend the tax law and the state finance law, in relation to  estab-
   lishing the New York state climate change education fund
 
   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 "New York climate change education act".
   §  2.  The  public  authorities law is amended by adding a new section
 1885 to read as follows:
   § 1885. CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM. 1.  DEFINITIONS.    AS
 USED IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEAN-
 INGS:
   (A) "ELIGIBLE APPLICANT" SHALL MEAN (I) A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, (II)
 A  BOARD  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, (III) A COMMUNITY BASED
 ORGANIZATION WHICH MAY BE A FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION OR ENTITY OR NOT-FOR-
 PROFIT CORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION, OR (IV) A CONSORTIUM OR  PARTNERSHIP
 FORMED  BY  A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT, A BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
 SERVICES AND ONE OR MORE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS  WHICH  QUALIFIES
 FOR THE AWARD OF A CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT BY THE AUTHORITY UNDER
 THIS SECTION.
   (B) "GRANT PROGRAM PLAN" SHALL MEAN THE PLAN SUBMITTED TO THE AUTHORI-
 TY  BY  AN  ELIGIBLE  APPLICANT  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  FOUR OF THIS
 SECTION.
   (C) "CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM" SHALL MEAN  A  COMPREHEN-
 SIVE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT
 PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION.
   2.  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM; GENERAL
 COMPONENTS. (A) THERE IS  HEREBY  ESTABLISHED  WITHIN  THE  AUTHORITY  A
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06672-01-3
              

 A. 1866                             2
 
 CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM SHALL BE ESTABLISHED
 BY  THE  AUTHORITY,  IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.
 THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM SHALL BE TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE APPLI-
 CANTS  TO  SUPPORT  CLIMATE  CHANGE  EDUCATION  GRANT PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG
 PEOPLE WHICH PROVIDES THEM WITH TOPICS OF INSTRUCTION IN THE  COMPONENTS
 SET  FORTH  IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION OR TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO
 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE OPTIONAL TEACHER TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL
 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS RELEVANT TO THE ADVANCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE  LITERACY
 OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
   (B) IN ORDER FOR AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT TO RECEIVE AN AWARD OF AN ANNU-
 AL  GRANT  UNDER  PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE APPLICANT SHALL
 SUBMIT WITH THE APPLICATION THE COMPONENTS OF INSTRUCTION WHICH SHALL BE
 OFFERED IN THE APPLICANT'S CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM.   THE
 APPLICANT  SHALL  CREATE  A CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO
 INCREASE THE CLIMATE LITERACY OF YOUNG PEOPLE BY BROADENING  THE  UNDER-
 STANDING  OF CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM
 CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE  AND  POTENTIAL  SOLUTIONS  OR  CREATE  A
 PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ASSIST TEACHERS IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS
 RELATED TO INCREASING THE CLIMATE LITERACY OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THE AUTHORI-
 TY MAY DETERMINE CERTAIN COMPONENTS AND TOPICS OF INSTRUCTION THAT SHALL
 BE  REQUIRED  TO  BE  INCLUDED  IN  THE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAM
 OFFERED BY THE APPLICANT.  THE  AUTHORITY  MAY  ALSO  DETERMINE  CERTAIN
 COMPONENTS AND TOPICS OF INSTRUCTION THAT SHALL BE OFFERED BY THE APPLI-
 CANT  IN  PROVIDING  RELEVANT  TRAINING  AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO
 TEACHERS.
   (C) ANY ELIGIBLE APPLICANT MAY APPLY FOR, AND  UPON  APPROVAL  OF  THE
 APPLICATION  BY THE AUTHORITY, SHALL BE AWARDED AN ANNUAL CLIMATE CHANGE
 EDUCATION GRANT PROVIDED THAT THE APPLICANT DEMONSTRATES  IN  THE  GRANT
 PROGRAM PLAN SUBMITTED TO THE AUTHORITY THAT:
   (I)  THE  APPLICANT IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH AN EFFECTIVE
 CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT SHALL BE MEANINGFUL AND CAPABLE OF
 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAM OR THE APPLICANT
 IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING TEACHERS WITH A RELEVANT EFFECTIVE  TRAINING  OR
 PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT  PROGRAM AND EITHER PROGRAM SHALL BE CONDUCTED
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION AND ANY REGULATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT
 TO THIS SECTION; AND
   (II) IF SUCH APPLICANT IS A COMMUNITY  BASED  ORGANIZATION,  THAT  THE
 APPLICANT  HAS  A  PROVEN RECORD AND EXPERIENCE IN CONDUCTING MEANINGFUL
 AND SUCCESSFUL CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND THAT THE APPLICANT
 IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING A CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAM  TO  A  BROAD
 BASED SEGMENT OF THE YOUTH POPULATION OR TEACHERS WITH SPECIFIC EMPHASIS
 ON  TARGETED YOUTHS AND TEACHERS LOCATED IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMU-
 NITIES IN SUCH ORGANIZATION'S SERVICE AREA. THE AUTHORITY MAY  SEEK  AND
 SHALL RECEIVE ANY PERTINENT INFORMATION OR REQUEST AND RECEIVE RECOMMEN-
 DATIONS  AS TO SUCH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION'S INTERACTIONS OR PRIOR
 DEALINGS WITH ANY OTHER STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL  ENTITY,  INCLUDING,
 BUT  NOT  LIMITED TO, ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT OR BOARD OF COOPERATIVE
 EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN MAKING THE DETERMINATION REQUIRED BY THIS  PARA-
 GRAPH.
   (D) ALL MONEYS PROVIDED IN GRANTS UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN ADDI-
 TION  TO,  AND  NOT IN LIEU OF, ANY MONEYS HISTORICALLY APPROPRIATED FOR
 THE SAME OR SIMILAR PURPOSES AND SHALL NOT BE USED TO OFFSET  OR  REDUCE
 MONEYS PREVIOUSLY EXPENDED FOR SIMILAR PROGRAMS.
   3.  CLIMATE  CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM AWARDS. (A) WITHIN AMOUNTS
 APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, THE AUTHORITY SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO GRANT AWARDS
 FOR THE SUPPORT OF APPROVED CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAMS.
 A. 1866                             3
 
   (B) GRANTS TO SUPPORT  AN  APPROVED  CLIMATE  CHANGE  EDUCATION  GRANT
 PROGRAM  SHALL  BE  AWARDED  ON  A  COMPETITIVE BASIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
 CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY.
   (C)  THE  AUTHORITY  SHALL  APPROPRIATE  AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT OF ALL
 GRANT MONEY APPROPRIATED FOR THE CLIMATE  CHANGE  EDUCATION  PROGRAM  TO
 ELIGIBLE  APPLICANTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF INCREASING THE CLIMATE LITERACY
 OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH A CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAM. THE AUTHORI-
 TY SHALL APPROPRIATE NO MORE THAN  FIFTY  PERCENT  OF  ALL  GRANT  MONEY
 APPROPRIATED TO TEACHER TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
   (D)  THE  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL, FROM WITHIN AMOUNTS APPROPRI-
 ATED TO THE DEPARTMENT, UNDERTAKE ALL ACTIVITIES NECESSARY TO  PLAN  FOR
 AND  PRELIMINARILY  PROVIDE FOR THE TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE
 CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION  FOR
 THE  STATE  FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ONE YEAR FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE
 OF THIS SECTION.
   (E) NOT MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT OF ANY AMOUNTS MADE AVAILABLE BY APPRO-
 PRIATION IN ANY SINGLE FISCAL YEAR  FOR  THE  CLIMATE  CHANGE  EDUCATION
 GRANT PROGRAM SHALL BE ANNUALLY RETAINED BY THE AUTHORITY FOR THE ADMIN-
 ISTRATIVE PURPOSES OF THE DEPARTMENT.
   (F)  OF  THE  AMOUNTS  MADE AVAILABLE BY APPROPRIATION FOR THE CLIMATE
 CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM, NOT MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT OF ANY  FUNDS
 MADE  BY  SUCH  APPROPRIATION FOR THE STATE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING THREE
 YEARS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE MADE  AVAIL-
 ABLE  FOR PAYMENT TO A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND ACCREDITED ORGANIZATION
 WITH EXPERIENCE IN ANALYZING THE EFFICACY AND BENEFITS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
 EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAMS FOR PURPOSES OF ENABLING SUCH  ORGANIZATION  TO
 EVALUATE THE TOTALITY OF THE GRANT PROGRAM AND GRANTS AWARDED IN THE TWO
 YEARS  FOLLOWING  THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. NOT MORE THAN FOUR
 PERCENT OF ANY FUNDS MADE BY SUCH APPROPRIATION  FOR  THE  STATE  FISCAL
 YEAR  COMMENCING FOUR YEARS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION
 SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PAYMENT TO THE SAME ORGANIZATION  WHICH  WAS
 AWARDED  THE INITIAL CONTRACT TO SO ANALYZE THE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION
 GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE  OF  PROVIDING  NECESSARY  FUNDS  TO  SUCH
 ORGANIZATION  TO ANALYZE THE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM FROM
 ITS INCEPTION THROUGH AND INCLUDING ALL THE GRANT YEAR  PERIODS  AUTHOR-
 IZED UNDER THIS SECTION. THE CONTRACT TO BE AWARDED TO SUCH ORGANIZATION
 SHALL  BE  LET  ONLY AFTER A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE
 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR BY LAW, AND THE AWARD
 OF SUCH CONTRACT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS AS
 ALSO REQUIRED BY LAW. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL  INCLUDE  WITHIN
 THE  REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DETAILED CRITERIA OF EVALUATION TO BE EMPLOYED
 BY THE ORGANIZATION TO BE AWARDED THE  BID.  THE  REQUEST  FOR  PROPOSAL
 SHALL ALSO ALLOW FOR A BIDDING ORGANIZATION TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL EVALUA-
 TIVE  CRITERIA  THAT MAY BE UTILIZED BY THE ORGANIZATION AWARDED THE BID
 IF APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  INCON-
 SISTENT  PROVISION  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH,  THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL SHALL
 INCLUDE A PROVISION AUTHORIZING THE AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE  THE  AWARDED
 CONTRACT  TO  THE  SUCCESSFUL  BIDDER WITH RESPECT TO THE CONDUCT OF THE
 SECOND EVALUATION OF THE GRANT  PROGRAM  FOR  THE  ENTIRE  GRANT  PERIOD
 AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SECTION IF THE AUTHORITY IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE
 QUALITY OF EFFORT DEMONSTRATED BY SUCH BIDDER IN THE FIRST EVALUATION OF
 THE  GRANT  PROGRAM PERIOD. IN SUCH CASE, A SIMILAR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
 PROCEDURE SHALL BE UTILIZED FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING THE SECOND  EVALU-
 ATION.
   (G) BEGINNING WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINNING IN JULY TWO YEARS FOLLOW-
 ING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION AND EVERY SCHOOL YEAR THEREAFTER,
 A. 1866                             4
 
 FROM  ANY  ANNUAL  APPROPRIATIONS AND/OR REAPPROPRIATIONS MADE THEREFOR,
 THE AUTHORITY SHALL SET ASIDE EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE MONEY  SO  APPROPRI-
 ATED (MINUS ANY AMOUNTS NECESSARY TO PAY ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES PURSUANT TO
 PARAGRAPHS  (D),  (E),  AND  (F) OF THIS SUBDIVISION) FOR THE PURPOSE OF
 AWARDING  GRANTS  FOR  CLIMATE  CHANGE  EDUCATION  GRANT  PROGRAM  PLANS
 APPROVED  BY  THE AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION
 TO BE CONDUCTED BY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND/OR BOARDS OF  COOPERATIVE
 EDUCATIONAL  SERVICES  INCLUDING  THOSE  PROGRAMS  WHICH ARE GOING TO BE
 CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PROGRAM PLAN PURSUANT TO  CONSORTIUMS  OR
 PARTNERSHIPS  FORMED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND/OR BOARD OF COOPER-
 ATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND ONE OR  MORE  COMMUNITY  BASED  ORGANIZA-
 TIONS.  PRIORITY, SUBSTANTIAL CONSIDERATION AND WEIGHT SHALL BE ACCORDED
 BY THE AUTHORITY IN THE AWARDING OF GRANTS TO SUCH CONSORTIUMS OR  PART-
 NERSHIPS.  THE AUTHORITY SHALL SET ASIDE TWENTY PERCENT OF ANY APPROPRI-
 ATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF AWARDING GRANTS FOR  CLIMATE  CHANGE  EDUCATION
 GRANT  PROGRAM  PLANS  APPROVED BY THE AUTHORITY FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
 WHO ARE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS  WHICH  ARE  NOT  CONDUCTING  SUCH
 PROGRAM AS PART OF A CONSORTIUM OR PARTNERSHIP.
   4.  APPLICATION  FOR  GRANTS;  CLIMATE  CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM
 PLAN. (A) THE AUTHORITY SHALL  ESTABLISH  AN  APPLICATION  PROCEDURE  BY
 WHICH  ELIGIBLE  APPLICANTS  MAY  APPLY  FOR  A  GRANT  PURSUANT TO THIS
 SECTION, AND THE MANNER AND METHOD INCLUDING SPECIFIED OBJECTIVE  CRITE-
 RIA  CONSISTENT WITH THIS SECTION BY WHICH THE AUTHORITY SHALL DETERMINE
 THE ELIGIBILITY OF AN APPLICANT.
   (B) THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT WITH THE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCA-
 TION GRANT APPLICATION THE APPLICANT'S GRANT PROGRAM PLAN TO THE AUTHOR-
 ITY, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED  CLIMATE
 CHANGE EDUCATION PROGRAM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (I) AN OUTLINE FOR THE CURRICULUM TO BE COVERED IN THE ELIGIBLE APPLI-
 CANT'S PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS OR WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS, INCLUDING INSTRUC-
 TIONAL  MATERIALS, BOOKS, VIDEOS OR OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS TO BE USED
 AND THE TRAINING WHICH WILL  BE  PROVIDED  TO  TEACHERS,  PERSONNEL  AND
 VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL CONDUCT THE PROGRAM;
   (II) ANY SPECIAL OR UNUSUAL OR INNOVATIVE SERVICES, PROGRAMS OR EDUCA-
 TION  METHODS  TO BE UTILIZED INCLUDING SPECIAL TECHNOLOGY OR SCIENTIFIC
 METHODS;
   (III) THE NUMBER AND TYPES  OF  TEACHING  OR  OTHER  PERSONNEL  TO  BE
 EMPLOYED,  OR VOLUNTEERS TO BE USED, TOGETHER WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL OR
 ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS;
   (IV) THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA IN WHICH THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL BE OFFERED
 ALONG WITH AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS  OR  TEACHERS  WHO  THE
 APPLICANT  ESTIMATES  WILL  PARTICIPATE  IN  SUCH  A  PROGRAM AND IF THE
 GEOGRAPHIC AREA IS LOCATED IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY;
   (V) A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS ADEQUATE IN TERMS  OF
 COURSE LENGTH;
   (VI) SPECIAL TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OFFERED FOR
 TEACHERS IF RELEVANT; AND
   (VII) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE AUTHORITY MAY REQUEST.
   5.  MAINTENANCE  OF  EFFORT.  ANY MONEYS MADE AVAILABLE TO AN ELIGIBLE
 APPLICANT SHALL NOT BE USED TO OFFSET OR REDUCE  THE  AMOUNT  OF  MONEYS
 PREVIOUSLY  EXPENDED  FOR  THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN A PRIOR YEAR,
 BUT SHALL BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT ANY PRIOR YEARS' EXPENDITURES. NO ELIGI-
 BLE APPLICANT SHALL REDUCE ANY SUBSEQUENT YEARS'  EXPENDITURES  FOR  THE
 SAME OR SIMILAR PROGRAMS AS A RESULT OF RECEIVING ANY GRANT, OR INCREASE
 IN THE AMOUNT OF ANY PRIOR AWARDED GRANT, PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
 A. 1866                             5
 
   6.  ANNUAL  REPORTS  BY GRANT RECIPIENTS. (A) EVERY ELIGIBLE APPLICANT
 THAT HAS BEEN AWARDED A GRANT UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL  FILE  AN  ANNUAL
 REPORT  WITH  THE  AUTHORITY,  IN  SUCH  FORM  AND WITH SUCH DATA AS THE
 AUTHORITY PRESCRIBES DETAILING THE EXPENDITURE OF GRANT FUNDS,  TOGETHER
 WITH  AN  ANALYSIS  OF  THE  CLIMATE  CHANGE  EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM IT
 CONDUCTED.
   (B) THE AUTHORITY SHALL ON OR BEFORE  FEBRUARY  FIRST  IN  EACH  YEAR,
 SUBMIT  A REPORT ON THE PROGRAM TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT
 OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE  ASSEMBLY  CONTAINING  HIS  OR  HER
 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. IN THE REPORT SUBMITTED IN THE FOURTH YEAR
 AND  THE SIXTH YEAR FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION RESPEC-
 TIVELY, THE AUTHORITY SHALL ALSO INCLUDE THE EVALUATION OF  THE  PROGRAM
 AS  PRESENTED BY THE ACCREDITED ORGANIZATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVI-
 SION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
   7. NOTIFICATION TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS. THE AUTHORITY SHALL SEND,  IN
 A  TIMELY  MANNER, EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BOARD OF COOPERATIVE
 EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND EVERY REQUESTING COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION A
 COPY OF THIS SECTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION  RELATING  TO  THE  CLIMATE
 CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM AND THE APPLICATION PROCESS THEREFOR.
   8.  REGULATIONS.  THE AUTHORITY SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS
 AS SHALL BE REASONABLY NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
 SECTION.
   §  3.  Section  305  of  the  education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 60 to read as follows:
   60. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL COOPERATE WITH THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  NEW
 YORK  STATE  ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IN ESTABLISHING A
 CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION  EIGHTEEN
 HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW.
   §  4.  The tax law is amended by adding a new section 630-l to read as
 follows:
   § 630-L. GIFT FOR NEW YORK STATE CLIMATE  CHANGE  EDUCATION  FUND.  AN
 INDIVIDUAL  IN  ANY  TAXABLE YEAR MAY ELECT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CLIMATE
 CHANGE EDUCATION FUND FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP-
 MENT IN SCHOOLS RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THE CONTRIBUTION SHALL BE  IN
 ANY  WHOLE  DOLLAR  AMOUNT  AND SHALL NOT REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF STATE TAX
 OWED BY SUCH INDIVIDUAL. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL  INCLUDE  SPACE  ON  THE
 PERSONAL  INCOME  TAX  RETURN TO ENABLE A TAXPAYER TO MAKE SUCH CONTRIB-
 UTION.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER  PROVISION  OF  LAW,  ALL   REVENUES
 COLLECTED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE NEW YORK
 STATE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION FUND AND USED  ONLY  FOR  THOSE  PURPOSES
 ENUMERATED IN SECTION NINETY-NINE-QQ OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
   § 5. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-qq to
 read as follows:
   §  99-QQ.  NEW  YORK  STATE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION FUND. 1. THERE IS
 HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND THE
 COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE A SPECIAL FUND TO BE KNOWN  AS  THE
 "NEW YORK STATE CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION FUND".
   2.  SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL REVENUES RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT
 OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, PURSUANT  TO  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  SECTION  SIX
 HUNDRED THIRTY-L OF THE TAX LAW AND ALL OTHER MONEYS APPROPRIATED THERE-
 TO  FROM  ANY OTHER FUND OR SOURCE PURSUANT TO LAW. NOTHING CONTAINED IN
 THIS SECTION SHALL PREVENT THE STATE FROM  RECEIVING  GRANTS,  GIFTS  OR
 BEQUESTS  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF THE FUND AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION AND
 DEPOSITING THEM INTO THE FUND ACCORDING TO LAW.
   3. ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY EACH YEAR, THE  COMMISSIONER
 OF  EDUCATION  SHALL PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT
 A. 1866                             6
 
 OF THE SENATE, SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY,  CHAIR  OF  THE  SENATE  FINANCE
 COMMITTEE,  CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, CHAIR OF THE
 SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY  EDUCATION  COMMIT-
 TEE, THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND THE PUBLIC. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE HOW
 THE  MONIES OF THE FUND WERE UTILIZED DURING THE PRECEDING CALENDAR YEAR
 AND SHALL INCLUDE:
   (I) THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DISPERSED FROM THE FUND AND THE AWARD  PROCESS
 USED FOR SUCH DISBURSEMENTS;
   (II) RECIPIENTS OF AWARDS FROM THE FUND;
   (III) THE AMOUNT AWARDED TO EACH RECIPIENT;
   (IV) THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH SUCH AWARDS WERE GRANTED; AND
   (V) A SUMMARY FINANCIAL PLAN FOR SUCH MONIES WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ESTI-
 MATES OF ALL RECEIPTS AND ALL DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE CURRENT AND SUCCEED-
 ING  FISCAL  YEARS,  ALONG WITH THE ACTUAL RESULTS FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL
 YEAR.
   4. MONEYS SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM THE FUND ON THE AUDIT AND  WARRANT  OF
 THE  COMPTROLLER  ON VOUCHERS APPROVED AND CERTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER
 OF EDUCATION.
   5. THE MONEYS IN SUCH FUND  SHALL  BE  EXPENDED  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF
 SUPPLEMENTING  EDUCATIONAL  PROGRAMS  IN  SCHOOLS  FOR  CLIMATE  CHANGE,
 INCLUDING SUCH PROGRAMS OFFERED OR PROVIDED BY A NOT-FOR-PROFIT.  ELIGI-
 BLE PROGRAMS ARE THOSE WITH AN ESTABLISHED CURRICULUM PROVIDING INSTRUC-
 TION FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CHANGE OR PROGRAMS PROVIDING TEACHER TRAINING OR
 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS RELEVANT TO  THE  ADVANCE  OF  CLIMATE
 CHANGE LITERACY OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
   §  6. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision or
 section of this act shall be adjudged by any court of  competent  juris-
 diction  to  be  invalid  and  after  exhaustion of all further judicial
 review, the judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the  remain-
 der  thereof,  but  shall  be  confined  in its operation to the clause,
 sentence,  paragraph,  subdivision  or  section  of  this  act  directly
 involved  in  the  controversy  in  which  the  judgment shall have been
 rendered.
   § 7. This act shall take effect immediately.