NY State Senate Bill 2023-S1459

Senate Bill S1459

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Relates to the provision of financial assistance to museums, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums and other cultural institutions located in low-income urban, suburban or rural communities

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Jan 12, 2023	referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation

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2023-S1459 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3835
Current Committee:: Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Law Section:: Arts and Cultural Affairs Law
Laws Affected:: Add §61.15, Arts & Cul L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S6819, A9695
2021-2022: S1490, A2525

2023-S1459 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the provision of financial assistance to museums, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums and other cultural institutions located in low-income urban, suburban or rural communities, or that provide educational services to students from such communities.

2023-S1459 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S1459

SPONSOR: SERRANO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to
providing financial assistance to museums, zoos, botanical gardens,
aquariums and other cultural institutions located in low-income urban,
suburban or rural communities, or that provide educational services to
students from such communities

 
PURPOSE:

Museums and other eligible institutions would have access to grant fund-
ing to conduct curriculum-based educational programs for students and
teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve and adults enrolled
in continuing education programs. The grants are competitive in nature
and can be used for the production of curricula, acquisition of special-
ized educational or interpretive skills, the acquisition of specialized
educational technology, the preparation of specialized educational exhi-
bition or public programming, the development and delivery of continuing
education programs, the transportation of students to a museum, histor-
ical society, zoo, botanical garden or aquarium, and other programs that

support the development and delivery of curriculum-based programs in
museums and other eligible institutions with collections. Grants would
be limited to proposals that serve students and adult learners from
low-income communities.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 Statement of legislative findings and intent.

Section 2 Short Title "museum education act"

Section 3 Arts and cultural affairs law amended by adding a new section
61.15 to direct the commissioner of education to develop and implement a
museum education grant program.

Section 4 Contains the effective date

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State has more museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical
gardens and aquaria than any other state, many of which are among the
leading art, history, science, and natural history institutions in the
world. As many as 60 million visitors, including over 6 million school
children, visit New York's museums and institutions each year, the
economic impact of which is well into the billions of dollars statewide.
However, many of our tourist and educational destinations are struggling
financially to keep their doors open and provide the services students
and adult learners need. Since 2008, school districts statewide have
been forced to cut their budgets and many have unfortunately cut trans-
portation budgets once used to transport students to their local and
regional museums and in situations. This unfortunate reality has effec-
tively cutoff many of New York's students from learning field trips and,
in turn, harmed the museums and institutions they once visited. The MEA
will help reverse this trend and get our students and adult learners
back to the museums and institutions eager to serve them -at no cost to
local school districts. In doing so, the MEA will strengthen the educa-
tional competitiveness of New York's students and adult learners while
strengthening local economies in the process.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S.1490 - Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and
Recreation

2020: S.6819- Reported to Finance

2019: S.6819 - Referred to Rules Similar Bill

2017-18: S.1676A Passed Senate

2015-16: S.5001-D Recommitted to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and
Recreation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Subject to appropriation.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act takes effect one year after it becomes law.

2023-S1459 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1459
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 12, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  SERRANO, ADDABBO, COMRIE, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON,
   KENNEDY, LIU, MAY, MAYER, ORTT,  SALAZAR,  SANDERS,  TEDISCO  --  read
   twice  and  ordered  printed,  and when printed to be committed to the
   Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
 
 AN ACT to amend the arts  and  cultural  affairs  law,  in  relation  to
   providing  financial  assistance  to museums, zoos, botanical gardens,
   aquariums and other cultural institutions located in low-income urban,
   suburban or rural communities, or that provide educational services to
   students from such communities
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Statement of legislative findings and intent. The legisla-
 ture finds and declares that the state of  New  York  is  home  to  vast
 educational  resources in museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical
 gardens, aquaria and cultural arts institutions that offer a  wealth  of
 ways to engage children and adults and instill in them a lasting love of
 learning.
   The  legislature  finds that over 1,500 museums, historical societies,
 zoos, botanical gardens, aquaria and cultural arts institutions in  this
 state  now  provide  instruction  to over six million children, and that
 children in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve and  adults  enrolled
 in  continuing  education programs should have broad and equal access to
 such services.
   The legislature further finds  that  community  cultural  arts  insti-
 tutions, in collaboration with teachers and schools, must design new and
 innovative  programs  to  engage  learners  in  such  pressing issues as
 science, anthropology, history and arts literacy.
   It is the intent of the legislature that the state  provide  financial
 assistance  to cultural arts institutions serving under-resourced urban,
 suburban or rural communities to  expand  educational  services  through
 access  to  museum  collections,  scholarship  and  virtual learning and

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03473-01-3

 S. 1459                             2
 
 extend their uniquely valuable educational resources to the children and
 lifelong learners of the state.
   §  2.  Short  title.  This  act shall be known and may be cited as the
 "museum education act".
   § 3. The arts and cultural affairs law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 61.15 to read as follows:
   §  61.15. EDUCATION GRANTS FOR MUSEUMS. 1.  THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCA-
 TION SHALL DEVELOP AND  IMPLEMENT,  WITH  CONSULTATION  AND  INPUT  FROM
 REPRESENTATIVES  FROM  THE  MUSEUM AND CULTURAL INSTITUTION COMMUNITY, A
 MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION  EDUCATION  GRANT  PROGRAM,  AND  SHALL
 AWARD,  WITHIN  THE  AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR SUCH
 PURPOSE, COMPETITIVE GRANTS IN ACCORDANCE  WITH  THIS  SECTION  FOR  THE
 PURPOSE  OF  ESTABLISHING OR IMPROVING EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN MUSEUMS AND
 CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC
 AND NONPUBLIC ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE  AND  SECONDARY  SCHOOLS.  SUCH  GRANTS
 SHALL BE EXPENDED TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF CURRICULA, ACQUISITION OF
 SPECIALIZED  EDUCATIONAL  OR INTERPRETIVE SKILLS, ACQUISITION AND IMPLE-
 MENTATION OF TECHNOLOGY, AND PREPARATION OF  SPECIALIZED  EXHIBITION  OR
 PUBLIC  PROGRAMS  THAT  ARE TAILORED TO ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND SECONDARY
 SCHOOL STUDENTS; THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY  OF  CONTINUING  EDUCATION
 PROGRAMS;  PROVISION  OF STUDENT TRANSPORTATION; AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT
 SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY  OF  CURRICULUM-BASED  PROGRAMS  IN
 MUSEUMS WITH COLLECTIONS.
   2.  AS  USED IN THIS SECTION, "ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION" SHALL MEAN: (A) A
 NONPROFIT INSTITUTION CHARTERED BY THE BOARD OF  REGENTS,  OR  OTHERWISE
 INCORPORATED AS A MUSEUM, HISTORICAL SOCIETY, NATURE CENTER, ZOO, BOTAN-
 ICAL  GARDEN,  ARBORETUM,  AQUARIUM OR OTHER CULTURAL EDUCATION INSTITU-
 TION, OR A PRIVATELY OR MUNICIPALLY OPERATED INSTITUTION THAT MEETS  THE
 APPLICABLE  REGISTRATION  STANDARDS  ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS
 FOR MUSEUMS OR  HISTORICAL  SOCIETIES  WITH  COLLECTIONS,  AND  THAT  IS
 LOCATED  IN  A LOW-INCOME URBAN, SUBURBAN OR RURAL COMMUNITY OR PROVIDES
 EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO STUDENTS  AND  ADULT  LEARNERS  FROM  LOW-INCOME
 URBAN,  SUBURBAN  OR  RURAL  COMMUNITIES;  (B)  A MUSEUM AUTHORIZED BY A
 SPECIAL CHARTER FROM THE LEGISLATURE OF THIS STATE AND THAT  IS  LOCATED
 IN  A  LOW-INCOME  URBAN, SUBURBAN OR RURAL COMMUNITY OR PROVIDES EDUCA-
 TIONAL SERVICES TO STUDENTS AND ADULT LEARNERS  FROM  LOW-INCOME  URBAN,
 SUBURBAN OR RURAL COMMUNITIES; OR (C) A PRIVATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY
 BASED  ORGANIZATION,  INCLUDING  AN INCORPORATED INSTITUTION THE SOLE OR
 PRIMARY PURPOSE OF WHICH IS THE SUPPORT OF MUSEUMS,  HISTORIC  SITES  OR
 HISTORICAL  SOCIETIES  LOCATED  IN A LOW-INCOME URBAN, SUBURBAN OR RURAL
 COMMUNITY OR THAT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO  STUDENTS  AND  ADULT
 LEARNERS  FROM  LOW-INCOME  URBAN, SUBURBAN OR RURAL COMMUNITIES; EXCEPT
 THAT INSTITUTIONS OPERATED BY STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHALL
 NOT BE CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE UNDER THIS SECTION.
   3. THE GOVERNING BODY OR OFFICER OF AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION REQUESTING
 A GRANT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL SUBMIT  AN  APPLICATION  AT  SUCH
 TIME,  AND  IN SUCH FORM AND CONTAINING SUCH INFORMATION, AS THE COMMIS-
 SIONER OF EDUCATION MAY REQUIRE. SUCH COMMISSIONER SHALL  ESTABLISH  THE
 CRITERIA  AND  STANDARDS  BY WHICH APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS TO BE AWARDED
 PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION WILL BE EVALUATED AND MADE TO  ELIGIBLE  INSTI-
 TUTIONS. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE REGU-
 LATIONS  FOR  THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS FOR COOPER-
 ATIVE OR COLLABORATIVE GRANTS, PROVIDED THAT A SINGLE INSTITUTION SERVES
 AS THE APPLICANT FOR SUCH A GRANT AND FOR MULTI-YEAR GRANTS.
   4. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL AWARD GRANTS, SUBJECT TO AVAIL-
 ABLE APPROPRIATIONS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE ALLOWABLE  COSTS  OF
 S. 1459                             3
 
 THE  ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION AS DETERMINED BY SUCH COMMISSIONER.  ALLOWABLE
 COSTS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE REASONABLE COST  OF
 SALARIES  AND FRINGE BENEFITS, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT. THE COMMISSIONER
 OF  EDUCATION  SHALL  ALLOCATE  A  MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE
 AMOUNT APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH GRANTS TO AWARD  TO  INSTITUTIONS  WITH  AN
 OPERATING  BUDGET  OF BETWEEN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ONE HUNDRED FIFTY
 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL  ALLOCATE
 A  MINIMUM  OF  TWENTY-FIVE  PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH
 GRANTS TO AWARD TO INSTITUTIONS WITH AN OPERATING BUDGET OF BETWEEN  ONE
 HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ONE DOLLARS AND FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER
 YEAR.    THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL ALLOCATE A MINIMUM OF TWEN-
 TY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH GRANTS TO  AWARD  TO
 INSTITUTIONS  WITH  AN OPERATING BUDGET OF BETWEEN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
 ONE DOLLARS AND ONE MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCA-
 TION SHALL ALLOCATE A MINIMUM  OF  TWENTY-FIVE  PERCENT  OF  THE  AMOUNT
 APPROPRIATED  FOR SUCH GRANTS TO AWARD TO INSTITUTIONS WITH AN OPERATING
 BUDGET IN EXCESS OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR.
   5. ON OR BEFORE MARCH FIFTEENTH, TWO THOUSAND  TWENTY-SIX  AND  ON  OR
 BEFORE  MARCH  FIRST OF EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCA-
 TION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE FINANCE AND  THE  ASSEMBLY
 WAYS  AND  MEANS  COMMITTEES,  AND  THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET, A REPORT
 DETAILING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE
 EXTENT  OF  PARTICIPATION  BY ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS, THE RELATIONSHIP OF
 THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED TO SCHOOL CURRICULA, AND THE GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION
 OF FUNDS AND PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the three hundred  sixty-fifth  day
 after  it  shall  have become a law. Effective immediately the addition,
 amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary  for  the
 implementation  of  this  act on its effective date are authorized to be
 made and completed on or before such date.

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