NY Educ L § 3611 (2021)
2021 New York Laws EDN - Education Title 5 - Taxation and Financial Administration Article 73 - Apportionment of Public Moneys Part 1 - General Provisions 3611 - Racial and Cultural Awareness Fund.

§ 3611. Racial  and  cultural  awareness  fund.  1.  There  is  hereby   established in the joint  custody  of  the  state  comptroller  and  the   commissioner  of  taxation  and finance a fund to be known as the racial   and cultural awareness fund.2. Such fund shall consist of all revenues received from  any  source,   public  or  private,  for  the purposes provided in this section and all   other moneys credited or transferred thereto  from  any  other  fund  or   source  pursuant  to law. No monies from the state general fund shall be   transferred to, or otherwise made available for deposit into this fund.3. Moneys of the fund, following appropriation by the legislature, may   be  expended  for  operational  and  planning  grants  to  local  school   districts to promote racial and cultural understanding and awareness, as   provided  in  this  section. Moneys shall be paid out of the fund on the   audit and warrant of the state  comptroller  on  vouchers  certified  or   approved by the commissioner.4.  A school district, or two or more school districts acting jointly,   shall be eligible to receive a planning or operational grant,  or  both,   pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this  section  for  the  purposes  of   developing and implementing programs designed to meet local needs in the   reduction and prevention of racial and cultural conflict, such  programs   to  be  approved  by  the  commissioner  in  accordance with regulations   adopted by him for such purpose. A school district which applies  for  a   planning grant pursuant to subdivision five of this section for such new   programs  shall  not  be  eligible  for an operational grant pursuant to   subdivision six of this section until the school year following the year   in which the planning grant was received. For purposes of  this  section   as  applied within the city of New York, such city school district shall   be eligible for multiple awards  on  behalf  of  each  community  school   district  or  high  school district as though each was a separate school   district.5. A school district shall be eligible to apply for a  planning  grant   on  a  one-year  competitive  basis  for the purpose of planning for the   implementation of programs for prevention and reduction  of  racial  and   cultural  conflict.  Applications  shall  be  evaluated on a competitive   basis and such grants shall be awarded accordingly.  Applications  shall   include  the  planning budget and program description for prevention and   reduction of racial and  cultural  conflict.  A  school  district  which   receives  a  competitive  planning  grant  and  implements  a successful   planning program shall be eligible to apply for a  two-year  operational   grant. Reports may be required for the purposes of program evaluation.6. A school district shall be eligible to receive an operational grant   over  a two-year period as provided in this section for programs for the   prevention and reduction of racial  and  cultural  conflict.  First-year   applications  shall be evaluated on a competitive basis and grants shall   be awarded accordingly.  Both  first-year  applications  and  continuing   applications  shall include the operating budget and program description   for prevention  and  reduction  of  racial  and  cultural  conflict  for   approval  of the proposed program and the estimated expenditures for the   current year. Reports may be required as necessary for the  purposes  of   program evaluation.7.  An  advisory  committee  shall  be established and assigned to the   department  to  consult,  review  and  make  recommendations  concerning   policy,  procedure,  program  content and community needs. Such advisory   committee shall consist of ten members appointed  by  the  commissioner.   Such  appointees  shall  include representatives from civil/human rights   organizations; educators; community-based organizations and  members  of   parent associations. 8.  The  commissioner may adopt rules and regulations as are necessary   and appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section.9.  The  commissioner  shall issue an annual report to the legislature   concerning the overall and individual programs, detailing their  impact;   and  shall  include  any  report  or  materials produced by the advisory   committee.