STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3813

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed by Assemblyman BURZICHELLI)

ADOPTED: MARCH 16, 2020

      These floor amendments:

· make the provisions of the bill applicable during school closures due to a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive by the appropriate health agency or officer to institute a public health-related closure, rather than during an epidemic, or a weather or other emergency condition;

· provide that in the event of a closure, public school employees covered by a collective negotiations agreement will be entitled to compensation, benefits, and emoluments as if the school facilities remained open for any purpose and for any time lost as a result of school closures or use of virtual or remote instruction;

· provide that approved private schools for students with disabilities may also submit a plan to the commissioner for approval for the use of virtual or remote instruction to meet the 180-day requirement for tuition purposes under similar circumstances; and

· provide that for a school district or charter school, if a program of virtual or remote instruction is implemented for general education students, the same educational opportunities must be provided to special education students, to the extent appropriate and practicable.