BILL NUMBER: S1378A
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:
This bill establishes education grants for museums. These competitive
grants would go to museums and eligible educational institutions located
in low-income communities throughout New York State, as well as insti-
tutions providing educational programming to low-income communities.
Museums and cultural institutions providing educational programming to
low-income communities would create or expand curriculum-based programs
for students, teachers, and adult learners. The grants can be utilized
to develop curricula, acquire specialized technology and skills, prepare
exhibitions, and facilitate transportation for students to visit these
educational venues. The New York State Education Department (NYSED)
would provide these grants through applications approved by the Commis-
sioner of Education.
 
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 is amended by adding a new
section 61.15 which directs the Commissioner of Education to develop and
implement a museum education grant program. The Commissioner of Educa-
tion would award these grants from the General Fund. This section
provides definitions of eligible institutions and requirements for
institutions to be eligible for such grants. This section also sets
percentages for the amount of grants that the Commissioner of Education
may award to institutions based on their operating budgets. The specifi-
cations of the appropriations to be awarded to grantees is categorized
by: 25% for institutions with an operating budget of $10,000-$150,000,
25% for institutions with an operating budget of $150,000-$500,000, 25%
for $500,000-$1 million, and 25% for institutions with an operating
budget of more than $1 million. Unused funds are addressed in this bill
by allowing the Commissioner of Education to reallocate them from one
category to another; thus allowing the unused funds to have more appli-
cations.
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 these institutions are
among the leaders in the world in their fields of art, history, science,
and natural history. 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 needed services to
students and adult learners. Since 2008, school districts statewide have
been forced to cut their budgets. Unfortunately many have also cut
their transportation budgets, creating an inability to transport
students to their local and regional museums. Sadly, this reality has
effectively cut off many of New York's students from educational field
trips. Additionally, it has also caused economic harm to the once visit-
ed museums and institutions because of a loss of revenue.
The Museum Education Act (MEA) will help reverse this trend and provide
our students and adult learners the opportunities to attend the museums
and institutions that are eager to serve them. This is at no cost to
local school districts. The MEA will strengthen the educational competi-
tiveness of New York's students and adult learners while strengthening
local economies in the process.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025: S.1378A - A Print to address unused funds
2023-24: S. 1459 - Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and
Recreation
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.