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A09831 Summary:

BILL NOA09831
 
SAME ASSAME AS S06837
 
SPONSORRosenthal L
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §1884, Pub Auth L; amd §305, Ed L
 
Establishes a climate change education grant program to award grants to eligible applicants to support climate change education grant programs for young people or to provide optional teacher training or professional development programs relevant to the advance of climate change literacy in young people.
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A09831 Actions:

BILL NOA09831
 
02/19/2020referred to education
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A09831 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A9831
 
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public authorities law and the education law, in relation to establishing a climate change education grant program   PURPOSE: To develop climate change education in schools by creating a grant program, from amounts annually appropriated, for school districts, boards of cooperative educational services, and community-based organ- izations to conduct education programs aimed at increasing climate change literacy in students.   SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 states that this act shall be known and cited as the "New York climate change education act". Section 2 adds a new section 1884 to the public authorities law enacting the climate change education grant program. The program shall be offered to applicants who create climate change programs designed to increase the climate literacy of young people. The program shall also be avail- able to eligible applicants who develop training programs designed to assist teachers in their professional development as related to increas- ing the climate literacy of people. The grant program would be subject to amounts made available by appropriation. Section 3 amends education law to allow the commissioner to cooperate with NYSERDA in establishing the grant program. Section 4 is the severability clause. Section 5 is the effective date   JUSTIFICATION: The earth continues warming, putting our health, water, food supply, and the economy at risk. The conditions of global climate change continue increasing the chances of extreme weather. Furthermore, 97% of publish- ing climate scientists agree that humans are causing climate change. Climate change education in schools is supported by 78%, yet schools are still struggling with how to incorporate the study of climate change into the classroom. By providing this education, students will be prepared to understand and address the impact of global warming while also preparing them to manage current and emerging sustainable develop- ment challenges. This bill will improve climate literacy for students by supporting the development of climate education programs in schools. Additionally, the bill recognizes our teachers also deserve support. Through this legis- lation, eligible programs can apply for funding to deploy optional training programs geared toward professional development for teachers to equip them with the needed tools and resources to bring climate change education to their classrooms. States such as Washington have created similar grant programs geared towards improving climate literacy in their schools. New York must join Washington in their fight against climate change by devoting both funding and attention to this issue so that our children do not suffer a gap in their education. By incorporat- ing climate change education into the curriculum, children will be better prepared for the future they are inheriting.   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: The grant program is subject to appropriations by the state.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
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A09831 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          9831
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 19, 2020
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
          Committee on Education
 
        AN ACT to amend the public authorities law and  the  education  law,  in
          relation to establishing a climate change education grant program
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
     2  the "New York climate change education act".
     3    §  2.  The  public  authorities law is amended by adding a new section
     4  1884 to read as follows:
     5    § 1884. Climate change education grant program. 1.  Definitions.    As
     6  used in this section, the following terms shall have the following mean-
     7  ings:
     8    (a) "Eligible applicant" shall mean (i) a public school district, (ii)
     9  a  board  of  cooperative  educational services, (iii) a community based
    10  organization which may be a for-profit corporation or entity or not-for-
    11  profit corporation or organization, or (iv) a consortium or  partnership
    12  formed  by  a public school district, a board of cooperative educational
    13  services and one or more community based organizations  which  qualifies
    14  for the award of a climate change education grant by the authority under
    15  this section.
    16    (b) "Grant program plan" shall mean the plan submitted to the authori-
    17  ty  by  an  eligible  applicant  pursuant  to  subdivision  four of this
    18  section.
    19    (c) "Climate change education grant program" shall mean  a  comprehen-
    20  sive climate change education program conducted by an eligible applicant
    21  pursuant to subdivision four of this section.
    22    2.  Establishment  of  climate change education grant program; general
    23  components. (a) There is  hereby  established  within  the  authority  a
    24  climate change education grant program. The program shall be established
    25  by  the  authority,  in consultation with the commissioner of education.
    26  The purpose of the program shall be to provide grants to eligible appli-
    27  cants to support climate  change  education  grant  programs  for  young
    28  people  which provides them with topics of instruction in the components
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13985-01-9

        A. 9831                             2
 
     1  set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision or to provide  grants  to
     2  eligible applicants to provide optional teacher training or professional
     3  development  programs relevant to the advance of climate change literacy
     4  of young people.
     5    (b) In order for an eligible applicant to receive an award of an annu-
     6  al  grant  under  paragraph (c) of this subdivision, the applicant shall
     7  submit with the application the components of instruction which shall be
     8  offered in the applicant's climate change education grant program.   The
     9  applicant  shall  create  a climate change education program designed to
    10  increase the climate literacy of young people by broadening  the  under-
    11  standing  of climate change, including possible long-term and short-term
    12  consequences of climate change  and  potential  solutions  or  create  a
    13  program designed to assist teachers in their professional development as
    14  related to increasing the climate literacy of young people. The authori-
    15  ty may determine certain components and topics of instruction that shall
    16  be  required  to  be  included  in  the climate change education program
    17  offered by the applicant.  The  authority  may  also  determine  certain
    18  components and topics of instruction that shall be offered by the appli-
    19  cant  in  providing  relevant  training  and professional development to
    20  teachers.
    21    (c) Any eligible applicant may apply for, and  upon  approval  of  the
    22  application  by the authority, shall be awarded an annual climate change
    23  education grant provided that the applicant demonstrates  in  the  grant
    24  program plan submitted to the authority that:
    25    (i)  the  applicant is capable of providing students with an effective
    26  climate change education program that shall be meaningful and capable of
    27  providing an effective climate change education program or the applicant
    28  is capable of providing teachers with a relevant effective  training  or
    29  professional  development  program and either program shall be conducted
    30  in accordance with this section and any regulations promulgated pursuant
    31  to this section; and
    32    (ii) if such applicant is a community  based  organization,  that  the
    33  applicant  has  a  proven record and experience in conducting meaningful
    34  and successful climate change education programs, and that the applicant
    35  is capable of providing a climate change education program  to  a  broad
    36  based segment of the youth population or teachers with specific emphasis
    37  on  targeted youths and teachers located in environmental justice commu-
    38  nities in such organization's service area. The authority may  seek  and
    39  shall receive any pertinent information or request and receive recommen-
    40  dations  as to such community based organization's interactions or prior
    41  dealings with any other state or local governmental  entity,  including,
    42  but  not  limited to, any public school district or board of cooperative
    43  educational services in making the determination required by this  para-
    44  graph.
    45    (d) All moneys provided in grants under this section shall be in addi-
    46  tion  to,  and  not in lieu of, any moneys historically appropriated for
    47  the same or similar purposes and shall not be used to offset  or  reduce
    48  moneys previously expended for similar programs.
    49    3.  Climate  change education grant program awards. (a) Within amounts
    50  appropriated therefor, the authority shall be authorized to grant awards
    51  for the support of approved climate change education grant programs.
    52    (b) Grants to support  an  approved  climate  change  education  grant
    53  program  shall  be  awarded  on  a  competitive basis in accordance with
    54  criteria established by the authority.
    55    (c) The authority shall appropriate at  least  fifty  percent  of  all
    56  grant  money  appropriated  for  the climate change education program to

        A. 9831                             3

     1  eligible applicants for the purposes of increasing the climate  literacy
     2  of young people through a climate change education program. The authori-
     3  ty  shall  appropriate  no  more  than  fifty percent of all grant money
     4  appropriated to teacher training or professional development.
     5    (d)  The  department of education shall, from within amounts appropri-
     6  ated to the department, undertake all activities necessary to  plan  for
     7  and  preliminarily  provide for the timely implementation of the climate
     8  change education grant program established pursuant to this section  for
     9  the  state  fiscal year commencing one year following the effective date
    10  of this section.
    11    (e) Not more than five percent of any amounts made available by appro-
    12  priation in any single fiscal year  for  the  climate  change  education
    13  grant program shall be annually retained by the authority for the admin-
    14  istrative purposes of the department.
    15    (f)  Of  the  amounts  made available by appropriation for the climate
    16  change education grant program, not more than five percent of any  funds
    17  made  by  such  appropriation for the state fiscal year commencing three
    18  years following the effective date of this section shall be made  avail-
    19  able  for payment to a nationally recognized and accredited organization
    20  with experience in analyzing the efficacy and benefits of climate change
    21  education grant programs for purposes of enabling such  organization  to
    22  evaluate the totality of the grant program and grants awarded in the two
    23  years  following  the effective date of this section. Not more than four
    24  percent of any funds made by such appropriation  for  the  state  fiscal
    25  year  commencing four years following the effective date of this section
    26  shall be made available for payment to the same organization  which  was
    27  awarded  the initial contract to so analyze the climate change education
    28  grant program for the purpose  of  providing  necessary  funds  to  such
    29  organization  to analyze the climate change education grant program from
    30  its inception through and including all the grant year  periods  author-
    31  ized under this section. The contract to be awarded to such organization
    32  shall  be  let  only after a request for proposal has been issued by the
    33  department of education in the manner provided for by law, and the award
    34  of such contract shall be subject to competitive bidding requirements as
    35  also required by law. The department of education shall  include  within
    36  the  request for proposal detailed criteria of evaluation to be employed
    37  by the organization to be awarded the  bid.  The  request  for  proposal
    38  shall also allow for a bidding organization to submit additional evalua-
    39  tive  criteria  that may be utilized by the organization awarded the bid
    40  if approved by the department of education. Notwithstanding  any  incon-
    41  sistent  provision  of  this  paragraph,  the request for proposal shall
    42  include a provision authorizing the authority to terminate  the  awarded
    43  contract  to  the  successful  bidder with respect to the conduct of the
    44  second evaluation of the grant  program  for  the  entire  grant  period
    45  authorized under this section if the authority is not satisfied with the
    46  quality of effort demonstrated by such bidder in the first evaluation of
    47  the  grant  program period. In such case, a similar request for proposal
    48  procedure shall be utilized for the purpose of making the second  evalu-
    49  ation.
    50    (g) Beginning with the school year beginning in July two years follow-
    51  ing the effective date of this section and every school year thereafter,
    52  from  any  annual  appropriations and/or reappropriations made therefor,
    53  the authority shall set aside eighty percent of the money  so  appropri-
    54  ated (minus any amounts necessary to pay adjustment expenses pursuant to
    55  paragraphs  (d),  (e),  and  (f) of this subdivision) for the purpose of
    56  awarding  grants  for  climate  change  education  grant  program  plans

        A. 9831                             4
 
     1  approved  by  the authority pursuant to subdivision four of this section
     2  to be conducted by public school districts and/or boards of  cooperative
     3  educational  services  including  those  programs  which are going to be
     4  conducted  in  accordance with a program plan pursuant to consortiums or
     5  partnerships formed by a public school district and/or board of  cooper-
     6  ative  educational  services  and  one or more community based organiza-
     7  tions. Priority, substantial consideration and weight shall be  accorded
     8  by  the authority in the awarding of grants to such consortiums or part-
     9  nerships. The authority shall set aside twenty percent of any  appropri-
    10  ation  for  the  purpose of awarding grants for climate change education
    11  grant program plans approved by the authority  for  eligible  applicants
    12  who  are  community  based  organizations  which are not conducting such
    13  program as part of a consortium or partnership.
    14    4. Application for grants;  climate  change  education  grant  program
    15  plan.  (a)  The  authority  shall  establish an application procedure by
    16  which eligible applicants  may  apply  for  a  grant  pursuant  to  this
    17  section,  and the manner and method including specified objective crite-
    18  ria consistent with this section by which the authority shall  determine
    19  the eligibility of an applicant.
    20    (b) The eligible applicant shall submit with the climate change educa-
    21  tion grant application the applicant's grant program plan to the author-
    22  ity,  which shall include a detailed description of the proposed climate
    23  change education program, including but not limited to:
    24    (i) an outline for the curriculum to be covered in the eligible appli-
    25  cant's program for students or workshop for teachers, including instruc-
    26  tional materials, books, videos or other instructional tools to be  used
    27  and  the  training  which  will  be  provided to teachers, personnel and
    28  volunteers who will conduct the program;
    29    (ii) any special or unusual or innovative services, programs or educa-
    30  tion methods to be utilized including special technology  or  scientific
    31  methods;
    32    (iii)  the  number  and  types  of  teaching  or other personnel to be
    33  employed, or volunteers to be used, together with their professional  or
    34  academic credentials;
    35    (iv) the geographic area in which the proposed program will be offered
    36  along  with  an  estimate  of the number of students or teachers who the
    37  applicant estimates will participate  in  such  a  program  and  if  the
    38  geographic area is located in an environmental justice community;
    39    (v)  a demonstration that the proposed program is adequate in terms of
    40  course length;
    41    (vi) special training or professional development services offered for
    42  teachers if relevant; and
    43    (vii) any other information the authority may request.
    44    5. Maintenance of effort. Any moneys made  available  to  an  eligible
    45  applicant  shall  not  be  used to offset or reduce the amount of moneys
    46  previously expended for the same or similar programs in  a  prior  year,
    47  but shall be used to supplement any prior years' expenditures. No eligi-
    48  ble  applicant  shall  reduce any subsequent years' expenditures for the
    49  same or similar programs as a result of receiving any grant, or increase
    50  in the amount of any prior awarded grant, pursuant to this section.
    51    6. Annual reports by grant recipients. (a)  Every  eligible  applicant
    52  that  has  been  awarded a grant under this section shall file an annual
    53  report with the authority, in such  form  and  with  such  data  as  the
    54  authority  prescribes detailing the expenditure of grant funds, together
    55  with an analysis of  the  climate  change  education  grant  program  it
    56  conducted.

        A. 9831                             5
 
     1    (b)  The  authority  shall  on  or before February first in each year,
     2  submit a report on the program to the governor, the temporary  president
     3  of  the  senate  and  the  speaker of the assembly containing his or her
     4  findings and recommendations. In the report submitted in the fourth year
     5  and  the sixth year following the effective date of this section respec-
     6  tively, the authority shall also include the evaluation of  the  program
     7  as  presented by the accredited organization in accordance with subdivi-
     8  sion three of this section.
     9    7. Notification to potential applicants. The authority shall send,  in
    10  a  timely  manner, every public school district and board of cooperative
    11  educational services and every requesting community based organization a
    12  copy of this section and general information  relating  to  the  climate
    13  change education grant program and the application process therefor.
    14    8.  Regulations.  The authority shall promulgate rules and regulations
    15  as shall be reasonably necessary to effectuate the  provisions  of  this
    16  section.
    17    §  3.  Section  305  of  the  education law is amended by adding a new
    18  subdivision 59 to read as follows:
    19    59. The commissioner shall cooperate with the  president  of  the  New
    20  York  state  energy research and development authority in establishing a
    21  climate change education grant program as described in section  eighteen
    22  hundred eighty-four of the public authorities law.
    23    §  4. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision or
    24  section of this act shall be adjudged by any court of  competent  juris-
    25  diction  to  be  invalid  and  after  exhaustion of all further judicial
    26  review, the judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the  remain-
    27  der  thereof,  but  shall  be  confined  in its operation to the clause,
    28  sentence,  paragraph,  subdivision  or  section  of  this  act  directly
    29  involved  in  the  controversy  in  which  the  judgment shall have been
    30  rendered.
    31    § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
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