NYS Education Policy
Who is responsible for education in NYS?
- New York State Governor, chief executive of New York State
–governor and the New York State Legislature are responsible for enacting laws, including education law, and the state’s budget, that provides funding to all public schools. - The New York State Education Department (NYSED)— responsible for the supervision of all public schools in the state including The University of the State of New York
- The New York State Board of Regents (the Regents) –responsible for the general supervision of all educational activities within the state
–presides over the University of the State of New York and the SED
–Regents’ regulations carry the same impact as laws enacted by the state legislature for public schools
–Speaker of the New York State Assembly oversees the appointment of the Regents
How do laws get passed in NYS?
INTRODUCTION
No law may be enacted in New York State unless it has been adopted by the Legislature in bill form. The idea for a bill is submitted to Bill Drafting Commission where it is translated into formal language. Then the bill is introduced, assigned the number it will be known by and printed.
COMMITTEES
Most bills go through committees for evaluation before they are formally introduced on the floor for general discussion and put to a vote.
AMMENDMENTS
Bills in the Senate or Assembly on the same topic may still require discussion or debate and often compromise before they can become a law. This is when certain amendments might be attached to the original bill.
PASSAGE OF A BILL
After explanation, discussion or debate, a vote is taken. If the bill originates in and passes through the New York State Assembly, it is then sent on to the New York State Senate, where it goes through a similar process. Conversely, if a bill originates in and passes through the New York State Senate, it is then sent on to the New York State Assembly. If both houses agree to pass a bill, it is then sent to the Governor for his signature. However, if it is changed, it is returned to the original chamber for agreement to the amendments.
THE GOVERNOR
While the Legislature is in session, the Governor has 10 days (not counting Sundays) to sign or veto bills passed by both houses
*The Governor’s failure to sign or veto a bill within the 10-day period means that it becomes law automatically 3 o Vetoed bills are returned to the house that first passed them, together with a statement of the reason for their disapproval
*If a bill is sent to the Governor when the Legislature is out of session, the rules are different o The Governor has 30 days in which to make a decision, and failure to act (“pocket veto”) has the same effect as a veto
Often it will take many years and several reintroductions before a bill is passed.
SOME ADDITIONAL FACTS
A bill does not have to be introduced in both houses before it can become law. According to the State Constitution, a bill cannot become law “except by the assent of a majority of the members elected to each branch of the Legislature.“ A bill vetoed by the Governor cannot become law without two-thirds of the members elected to each house. The Legislature does not prepare the State Budget o The Governor must present it to the Legislature annually in the middle of January