Senator Joe Addabbo and Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi introduce legislation requiring New York State to cover testing costs for private, religious, and nonpublic schools

Requiring COVD-19 testing in schools is an important piece in containing this virus and keeping our schools open and safe. However, unlike their public counterparts, non- public and private institutions are being forced to cover the expense of this testing without reimbursement from the state. This unfunded mandate from the state puts an undue and unjust burden on many schools. This legislation would provide much needed financial relief, ensure that all schools are treated equally, and guarantee that necessary testing guidelines are followed.

“Testing is a crucial component of keeping our schools open and keeping our students, teachers, and faculty safe during the pandemic. New York State did the right thing by making these tests mandatory, it must do the right thing again by not imposing an unfunded mandate on our religious, private and non-public schools,” said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi.

“The numbers have shown that schools are actually some of the safest spots during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is vital for New York State to provide funding for our private, religious, and non-public schools to continue their testing practices,” said State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., a member of the Senate Education Committee. “I am proud to sponsor this piece of legislation in the Senate to ensure that our non-public schools are fairly compensated — just like our public schools — for their efforts in helping to keep the students, teachers and faculty safe during these trying times."