You may recall that last year CAS/ESSAA wrote legislation proposing tenured administrators, supervisors, etc. who move from one school district to another will be eligible for a three-year probationary period, not four. The bill passed both houses but was vetoed by the Governor in December.
This year our CAS/ESSAA legal staff and legislative aides rewrote the bill taking the Governor’s objections into consideration. Bob Ungar, our lobbyist, and I have met with Senator Shelly Mayer, Senate Education Committee Chairperson, to review and explain the bill. Senate Mayer put the bill before the Education Committee on Tuesday, March 5th where it was passed and sent to the Senate floor. We also met with Assemblyman Mike Benedetto, Assembly Education Chairperson, who will put the bill before his Committee. Either Assembly Chair Benedetto or Assemblyman Peter Abbate will sponsor the bill in the Assembly while Assemblyman Mike DenDekker has graciously agreed to co-sponsor it in the Assembly.
Before legislation is passed on to a Committee all organizations affected by the bill are given an opportunity to comment and make suggestions. Currently, we are working with NYSUT, NYSSBA, and NYSCSS to refine the wording of our bill. The minor suggestions to this point have in no way changed the substance of the law. Our attorneys are presently working with other labor groups to determine if they see the need for any add additional edits.
On this visit to Albany, our primary objective was to revise and resubmit the administrator tenure legislation. Also, Bob, who is in Albany every day the legislators are in session, has been stressing our stated concerns regarding the legalization of the recreational adult use of marijuana and advocating for limiting student access to e-cigarettes.
While both houses consider passing the tenure bill, we both will continue lobbying against legalizing marijuana and for establishing limits on e-cigarettes and flavored components.
Tony
Anthony C. Laurino
CAS Legislative Liaison
