WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

A 996

Prohibits trustees and members of a board of education from voting on matters before the board which affect a family member of the trustee or board member

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Vivian Cook and 1 co-sponsor

Prohibits trustees/board members from voting on matters before the board that affect a family member, reducing conflicts of interest and promoting impartial school governance.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 996

Summary of Bill A 996

Overview

Bill A 996, introduced on January 8, 2025, is a New York Assembly measure titled: “Prohibits trustees and members of a board of education from voting on matters before the board which affect a family member of the trustee or board member.” The bill is currently referred to the Education Committee for consideration.

Purpose and intent

  • The primary aim is to strengthen governance and reduce conflicts of interest on school boards by restricting the ability of trustees and board of education members to participate in votes on matters that would affect a family member.
  • By limiting self-interested voting, the bill seeks to promote impartial decision-making in matters affecting students, staff, and school operations.

Key provisions (as described)

  • Prohibition on voting: Trustees and board of education members may not vote on matters that appear before the board if the matter would affect a family member of the trustee or board member.
  • Details in the full text: The exact definitions (e.g., who constitutes a “family member”) and any related procedures (recusal, disclosures, exemptions, penalties) would be specified in the bill’s full language. The summary here does not include those specifics.

Definitions and scope (as stated)

  • The bill would define concepts such as “family member” and “matter,” and may establish when a matter “affects” a family member. The precise definitions are not provided in the summary available here.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Trustees and members of boards of education.
  • Indirectly: Family members of trustees/board members (whose interests could be affected), school districts, and local communities relying on school governance.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Introduced: January 8, 2025.
  • Current status: Referred to the Education Committee (listed twice in the actions, indicating committee referral on the same date).
  • No further actions or floor votes are noted in the provided information.

Sponsorship

  • Primary sponsor: Philip Ramos.
  • Cosponsor: Vivian Cook.

Related legislation

  • A 9849 (prior-session)
  • A 5944 (prior-session)
  • A 6691 (prior-session)
  • A 3857 (prior-session)
  • A 3642 (prior-session)
  • These related bills suggest ongoing interest in ethics and conflicts-of-interest reform for school governance.

Potential implications and considerations

  • Clarity on definitions: The impact depends on how broadly “family member” and “affects” are defined, as well as any permitted disclosures or recusals.
  • Enforcement and penalties: The bill’s effectiveness hinges on whether there are clear enforcement mechanisms and consequences for violations.
  • Administrative impact: Districts may need to establish processes for recusals and voting records to demonstrate compliance.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to align with a specific audience (e.g., educators, policymakers, or the general public) or compare it to the related bills listed.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.