Non-Public Safety Equipment: S9885-A Sutton / A10618-C Berger

MEMORANDUM OF SUPPORT

S.9885-A Sutton / A.10618-C Berger
Relates to reimbursement for Non-Public Safety Equipment (NPSE) expenses

The above-referenced bill amends the education law to require that reimbursement to nonpublic schools for their critical health, safety, and security expenses under the NPSE program, occur within twelve months of the nonpublic school furnishing all required application data and information to the State Education Department and requires the department to report on such reimbursements.

The horrific shooting and death of 21 first grade students and six adult staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut in 2012 prompted New York lawmakers to provide funding to help all schools meet their security needs. Specifically, public schools receive supplemental support in state building aid and nonpublic schools receive reimbursement through the Non-Public Safety Equipment (NPSE) program. NPSE has been appropriately expanded over the intervening years to reimburse schools for a broader range of critical health, safety, and security needs, including reimbursement for the cost of security guards. 

Administrative challenges within the State Education Deparment however, have resulted in significant delays in reimbursements to schools. Not only do delays in reimbursement create financial uncertainty for nonpublic schools, which must often expend funds upfront to comply with program requirements, but such delays can jeopardize a schools ability to meet their safety and security needs thus putting students and staff at further risk.

Most aid programs for public schools, as well as Mandated Services Reimbursement for nonpublic schools, have a statutory timeframe for the disbursement of funds to schools. Establishing a clear statutory timeframe for payment under the NPSE program is needed to provide greater predictability so schools can better plan for and address these critical needs.

This legislation addresses this issue by requiring that reimbursements for NPSE grants be paid within twelve months of the nonpublic school furnishing all required application materials to the State Education Department. Further, the measure requires the department to report to lawmakers on the status of applications and reimbursement under the program.

The New York State Catholic Conference supports this legislation and urges its adoption.