BILL NUMBER: S4443
SPONSOR: STEC
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the calculation of
selected operating aid per pupil for the Boquet Valley central school
district
 
PURPOSE:
The bill would permit the Bouquet Valley Central School District to
access additional state aid made available to other districts within the
2024 budget.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 - Amends paragraph d-1 of subdivision 14 of section 3602 of
the education law, as amended by chapter 56 of 2024, to include Bouquet
Valley Central School District.
Section 2 - Provides effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 56 of the laws of 2024 boosted the incentive for school
districts to merge through changes to the aide formula. But the enhanced
formula applies only to districts that merge on or after July 1, 2024.
On July 1, 2019, the Elizabethtown-Lewis and Westport Central school
districts merged following significant study and debate, forming the
Bouquet Valley Central School District.
Over the long term, the new district will prove more efficient for the
taxpayer and provide more opportunities for the 420 school students.
But the existing facilities, which were aging prior to the merger, are
out of date and not centrally located.
This legislation would make possible the construction of a modern school
building with a location that's well positioned within the new district.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023/2024: S9261 referred to Education, A10481 referred to Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that if
section 10-a of part A of chapter 56 of the laws of 2024 shall not have
taken effect on or before such date then section one of this act shall
take effect on the same date and in the same manner as such section of
the chapter of the laws of 2024, takes effect.

Statutes affected:
S4443: 3602 education law, 3602(14) education law