2015 New York Laws
EDN - Education
Title 5 - TAXATION AND FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Article 73 - APPORTIONMENT OF PUBLIC MONEYS
Part 1 - (3601 - 3613) 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.