Relates to reimbursement for nonpublic school safety equipment grants

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jack Martins and 2 co-sponsors

Reimbursements for nonpublic school safety equipment grants must be paid within 12 months of final required materials, with biannual reports on any delays.

DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

Bill Summary: S 9885 (2025-2026) – Relates to reimbursement for nonpublic school safety equipment grants

Main purpose and intent

To require that reimbursements for nonpublic school safety equipment grants, administered by the New York Commissioner of Education, be paid within twelve months after a nonpublic school furnishes all required application materials.

To establish a biannual reporting obligation detailing reimbursements not paid within the twelve-month period and identifying affected schools and amounts.

Key provisions and changes

New subdivision 63 added to Education Law § 305:

63(a): Any reimbursement payable for nonpublic school safety equipment grants shall be paid within 12 months of the nonpublic school providing all required grant application materials to the Department of Education (DOE).
63(b): The Commissioner of Education, in collaboration with the Office of Religious and Independent Schools, must biannually report on reimbursements that have not been paid within the 12-month window. The report must include:
Names of schools with unpaid reimbursements.
Current outstanding reimbursement amounts.
Original date the school furnished all required materials (if materials were submitted on multiple dates, report the date of the final submission).
The reports must be delivered to:
- Governor
- Comptroller
- Temporary President of the Senate
- Speaker of the Assembly
- Chair of the Senate Education Committee
- Chair of the Assembly Education Committee
Reports are due by May 1 and November 1 of each year.
63(c): The provision does not apply to grant funding awarded on a competitive basis.

Effective date: The act would take effect on April 1, 2027.

Who/what is affected

Nonpublic (religious and independent) schools applying for safety equipment grants.

The New York Department of Education, for processing reimbursements and compiling reports.

The Office of Religious and Independent Schools, for collaboration on reporting.

State policymakers and oversight bodies (Governor, Comptroller, and legislative leaders) who receive the biannual reports.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Implementation timeline:

Effective date: April 1, 2027.
Reimbursements: Must be paid within 12 months after all required application materials are furnished.
Reporting: Biannual reports due May 1 and November 1 each year detailing unpaid reimbursements.

Reporting scope and constraints:

Reports focus on reimbursements not paid within the 12-month window.
Data to be reported includes school name, current amount outstanding, and final submission date.
The act explicitly excludes grants awarded on a competitive basis from these provisions.

Potential impact and considerations

Aims to improve timely disbursement of safety equipment grant reimbursements to nonpublic schools.

Increases transparency and accountability through mandatory biannual reporting.

Provides a mechanism for public officials to monitor and address delays in reimbursement.

Does not alter funding decisions for grants awarded competitively; such grants remain outside the scope of these timing provisions.

Note: This summary reflects the bill’s text as introduced/amended and does not include subsequent amendments or fiscal impact analyses that may be produced by the sponsor or committees.