BILL NUMBER: S4434
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the establishment of
school election wards in union free school districts and central school
districts contained entirely or partially within Orange county
 
PURPOSE:
To permit school districts located entirely or partially within Orange
County, organized under articles 35 and 37 of the New York Education
Law, to allow their voters the option to approve a referendum that will
restrict the election of candidates to the Board of Education to the
particular election district where those candidates and the voters of
that particular election district reside.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends 1702 of the education law by adding a new subdivision
4, to allow union free school districts in Orange County to establish
school election wards for electing trustees. The process requires a
board resolution, a mandatory referendum, public hearings, and an
assessment of potential disenfranchisement. It ensures fair represen-
tation by requiring wards to be contiguous, population-balanced, and
aligned with community interests.
Section 2: Amends section 1804 of the education law by adding new subdi-
vision 13 to allow central school districts in Orange County to estab-
lish school election wards for electing board members, subject to a
mandatory referendum. It outlines procedures for ward creation, public
hearings, voter approval, and periodic review based on census data to
ensure fair representation and prevent disenfranchisement. The bill
also provides for the potential abolition of the ward system through a
similar referendum process.
Section 3: Sets Effective Date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current law, union-free school districts and central school
districts, upon their motion, may divide into separate election
districts. However, current law does not permit a school district to
restrict candidates to run for office only in the election district
where they reside or to limit voters to elect a candidate only from the
election district where they reside. To prevent overrepresentation or
underrepresentation of one geographical area over the other, this legis-
lation would give voters the option to approve a referendum that will
restrict the election of candidates to the board of education to the
particular election district where those candidates and the voters of
that particular election district reside.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2020: S7587, Passed Senate
2021: S1848, Passed Senate
2022: S1848, Passed Senate
2023: S443, Passed Senate
2024: S443, Passed Senate
Assembly
2020: A10170, Referred to Education
2021: A330, Referred to Education
2022: A330, Referred to Education
2023: A861, Referred to Education
2024: A861, Referred to Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S4434: 1702 education law, 1804 education law