Albany, NY – Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D,C – Forestburgh) announced passage of legislation she co-sponsored that would permit distribution of full state aid to districts where schools were unable to hold classes due to extraordinary circumstances, emergency, or disaster.

“Districts that are forced to close because of circumstances beyond their control deserve our compassion, and taxpayers, who would be forced to bear the burden of reduced aid, deserve the relief,” said Assemblywoman Gunther.

The bill (A.9442/S.6294) adds subdivision 7-a to section 3604 of the education law to require the commissioner to hold school districts financially harmless if a school has lost up to ten days during the 2011-12 school year, and is unable to be in session for the state mandated 180 days due to a federal declaration of a natural disaster, state disaster emergency, or certain other exceptional events.