BILL NUMBER: S5988
SPONSOR: BYNOE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to enabling public
libraries to access employment preparation education (EPE) funds to
provide adult literacy instruction
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to allow public libraries to apply for and
receive Employment Preparation Education (EPE) funds for pre-GED and
other adult literacy services that are authorized under this program.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill would set aside an amount of one million dollars
to be awarded through a competitive grant process to public libraries to
provide EPE services.
Section 2 shall provide that the effective date shall April 1, 2027.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current funding for Employment Preparation Education (EPE) programs is
only available to school districts and BOCES. These programs provide
educational services to persons twenty-one years of age or older who
have dropped out of high school and did not receive a degree or GED,
including employment skills, English as a Second Language courses, pre-
GED classes, computer and Internet training, job readiness workshops,
and financial literacy classes. Libraries provide many of the same
educational services and should be able to take advantage of the funding
dedicated to these services. This bill would allow public libraries to
apply for and receive Employment Preparation Education (EPE) funds for
pre-GED and other adult literacy services that are authorized under this
program.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S6136A (Chu) - Referred to Finance.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
$1 million.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect April 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
S5988: 3602 education law, 3602(11) education law