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.
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.
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.
