Update on Legislation
Below is an overview on several of the bills recently signed by Governor Cuomo. Contact SAANYS Director of Government Relations Cindy Gallagher (cgallgher@saanys.org) if you would like more information regarding the language and justification for any of the bills and memorandums listed.
- S.1866-b/A.2858-b—The governor signed this bill on December 6, 2019 (now Chapter 589 of the Laws of 2019). The bill increases the limitation on earnings for retired public employees to $35,000 for 2020 and thereafter. The salary limit for 2019 remains $30,000.
- A.4654/S.1660—On November 11, 2019 the governor signed this bill (now Chapter 477 of the Laws of 2019) into law. It requires that the commissioner of education to develop a program so that any veteran, who has served on active duty and who did not complete high school, be awarded a high school diploma .
- S.2960-b/A.605-b—On November 11, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed this bill into law (now Chapter 513). The bill requires that a school bus safety component be a prerequisite for obtaining a driver’s license. The intent of the bill is to ensure that drivers understand the dangers and penalties for passing a school bus.
- S.4009/A.6540—On November 8, 2019 the governor signed this bill into law (now Chapter 471). The bill requires that poling hours for small cities school districts not be less than nine consecutive hours, not begin earlier than 6:00 am., and two of the hours must be after 6:00 pm. This applies to district annual meetings which include school board elections and the annual budget vote.
- S.5705/A.7538—On November 20, 2019 the governor signed this bill into law (now Chapter 525). The bill specifies that school bus drivers and monitors are included in the definition of school personnel for the purposes of being included in school district safety plans.