BILL NO A00121
SAME AS No same as
SPONSOR Nolan (MS)
COSPNSR Colton, Jaffee, Magnarelli, Zebrowski, Galef, Crespo, Millman,
Weprin, Bronson
MLTSPNSR Cook, Gabryszak, Glick, Gottfried, Heastie, Titone, Weisenberg
Amd S204, Ed L
Relates to meetings and absences of the board of regents.
BILL NUMBER:A121
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to
meetings and absences of the board of regents
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill would require the Board of
Regents to give notice of their agenda several days before a scheduled
meeting.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends section 204 of the
Education Law to require the Board of Regents to put their official
agenda on the Board's official website 10 days in advance. Such notice
of time, place, and agenda shall be distributed via the board's
official Internet website and specifically distributed by United
States postal to all regents at their usual addresses. An agenda for a
regular scheduled meeting of the board shall include a list of all
items to be considered, a description of the subject matter of each
item and the full text of all items subject to a vote and the same of
a person knowledgeable about the agenda and contact information for
such person. An agenda shall be put on the Board's official website
for a special meeting at least 3 days of advance notice.
A summary of all resolutions, decisions, and other actions taken by
the board of regents any committee meeting, task force, council or
other body for any meeting shall be electronically available on the
board's official website no later than five days following a meeting.
The approved minutes, attendance. voting record and either transcripts
or video record must also be posted on the board's official website no
later than five days following a meeting.
Section 2 makes the bill effective the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall become a law.
JUSTIFICATION: The NYS Board of Regents should hold itself to the
highest level of transparency. Allowing the agenda to be given ahead
of time would allow the stakeholders on several educational issues the
appropriate time to respond and discuss the issues. This would
encourage more involvement from the public and would foster an
improved dialogue between both the Board of Regents and other
stakeholders in education.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A.8314 of 2011-2012.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the first of July next
succeeding the date on which it shall become a law.
