NYSASBO is currently monitoring the following legislation:

A3108/S3548 OPEB Reserve
Permits expenditures from the employee benefits accrued liability reserve fund for post employment benefits of municipal employees.
Status: Passed Assembly/In Senate Local Government Committee

A8081a/S4759a Statewide Wicks Exemption
Provides an exemption for school districts from requirements for separate specifications for public works; permits school district to assign contract to a single responsible person, firm or corporation; permits school district to require a general contractor to submit proposed subcontractor bids.
Status: Assembly Education Committee/Senate Rules Committee

A8593b/S6849 Additional Retirement Service Credit for School Administrtors
Relates to the pension service credit for school administrator members of the New York state and local employees' retirement system.
Status: Assembly Governmental Employees & Senate Civil Service and Penson Committees

A8925/S5816 Whistle Blower Protection for School Employees
Provides protection to any employee of a school district, board of cooperative educational services or charter school who, having reasonable cause to suspect that the fiscal practices or actions of an employee or officer of a school district, BOCES, or charter school violates law, reports such information.
Status: Law - Chapter 118 of the Laws of 2006

A9494 Streamlining of School District Reporting
Provides a streamlining of planning and reporting requirements for school districts and boards of cooperative educational services
Status: Assembly Education Committee

A9853b/S6829a Special Assessing Units
Allows special assessing units besides cities to adjust their current base proportions based on such special assessing unit's 2006 assessment roll
Status: Law - Chapter 19 of the Laws of 2006

A9854a/S6817 Batching Grievances in Special Assessing Units
Allows persons in certain special assessment units who assert the same grounds for reviewing an assessment of real property, having a taxable status date of January 1, 2005, to unite in the same petition.
Status: Law - Chapter 20 Chapter 19 of the Laws of 2006

A879a/S2731a Excluding Fuel Prices from Contingency Cap
Relates to excluding increased fuel costs for the 2005-2006 school year and thereafter from calculation of total spending increases in a contingency budget.
Status: Vetoed - Memo 2

S5416 Streamlining of School District Reporting
Relates to the streamlining of planning and reporting requirements for school districts and boards of cooperative educational services; authorizes boards of education to enter into transportation contracts with parents of school children; authorizes municipalities to forego the competitive bidding requirements under certain circumstances.
Status: Passed Senate

S6379/A9452 Retiree Health Insurance
Relates to extending certain provisions of chapter 729 of 1994 relating to health insurance benefits and contributions of retired employees of school districts
Status: Law - Chapter 27 of Laws of 2006

A10495/S6936 Energy to Schools Program
Establishes the energy to schools program within the power authority of the state of New York to provide a reliable source of energy at a lower cost to elementary and secondary schools in this state.
Status: No Longer Active in Assembly/In Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee

A10646/S3593a Post Retirement Earnings
Increases the amount of money a retiree may earn in a position of public service in the year 2007 and thereafter to $30,000.
Status: Chapter 74 of the Laws of 2006

A9078/S5995 School District Energy Cost Stabilization Fund
To maintain educational programs and minimize real property tax increases by assisting school districts struggling to pay for skyrocketing energy costs.
Status: Assembly Ways & Means and Senate Finance Committees

A11551/S5982b Fixes property tax at a sliding percentage of income to property value
Establishes a personal income tax credit for a portion of a taxpayer's residential real property taxes which exceeds a certain percentage of the taxpayer's household gross income; provides that the taxpayer shall have resided in such residential real property for not less than 10 years; provides that such credit shall not apply to taxpayers whose household gross income exceeds $200,000 or who have received the school tax relief exemption on such real property
Status: In Senate Local Governements and Assembly Ways and Means Committees

A1987a School District Financial Oversight
Enhances Financial Oversight of school districts by mandating more extensive outside audits and mandating more rigorous financial management by school boards
Status: Assembly Education Committee

A949a/S6383 Fund Balance Increase
Increases the allowable amount of unexpended surplus funds which may be retained by a board of education; provides for an increase from two percent to three percent for the two thousand six-two thousand seven school year, an increase from three percent to four percent for the two thousand seven-two thousand eight school year, and thereafter.
Status: Vetoed - Memo 220

S8471/A12045 Property Tax Relief - STAR Rebates
Permits all STAR eligible homeowners to receive a Fall rebate check. The rebate is amount will be approx. 30% of the current STAR amount. In years where policymakers fail to make an appropriation for the rebate, otherwise eligible homeowners will get the tax relief in the form a credit on their income tax.
Status: Law on June 23, 2006

A11805/S8408 "55/25" Retirement Incentive
This two-year retirement incentive allows public employees, excluding superintendents, in Tier 2, 3, & 4 of TRS & ERS to retire at age 55 with 25 years of service with no reduction in retirement benefits. This bill does not provide any additional service credit to retirees nor does it require the school district to opt-in. the school district No local option – No additional service credit. If signed into law, the open period would be 90-days retroactive June 3, 2006. Another 90-day open period would begin on June 1, 2007.
Status: Vetoed - Memo 226

S7303/A11258 Durational Limit on Temporary Civil Service Appointments
This bill would ban the use of temporary employees for periods in excess of eighteen months. Should the temporary appointment of an employee exceed the aggregate of eighteen months, the temporary employee would be required to compete and pass the next open competitive examination for the title of the position being held.
Status: Passed Senate and Assembly

A6222/S3178 District Penalties for "failure to bargain in good faith" by PERB determination
This bill would provide for a penalty on school districts who fail to bargain in good faith. According to bill language, if the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) determines an employer has failed to bargain in good faith, and the collective bargaining agreement has expired, PERB is to order an immediate salary increase of 1%. An additional 0.5% salary increase would kick-in every 3 months the PERB determination stands. The bill would also amend the Taylor Law to ease striking penalties for public employees.
Status: Vetoed - Memo 292

S7697/A10480 Cost Effective Requirement for Conference Travel
This bill would require school district personnel to use the most cost-effective method of travel when attending conferences. According to the bill language, conference travel shall be for official business and shall be made utilizing a cost-effective and reasonable method of travel. Authorization must be by resolution adopted prior to such attendance. No thresholds are listed in the bill.
Status: Law - Chapter 276 of Laws of 2006

A8630b/S5376b Whistle Blower Protections for Public Employees
This bill would extend whistle blower protections to public employees who disclose information that could reasonably be expected to lead to endangering the welfare of a minor, including but not limited to physical, mental, or sexual misuse or abuse. The bill would provide Civil Service protection against elimination or reclassification of job title and compensation for legal fees related to any challenge in court.
Status: Passed Senate and Assembly