Enables public libraries to access employment preparation education (EPE) funds to provide adult literacy education

Latest action Apr 28, 2026

Enables public libraries to access employment preparation education (EPE) funds to provide adult literacy education; sets aside one million dollars to be awarded through a competitive grant process; provides that half of such appropriation shall be set aside for libraries serving a population of one million or more.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A3738, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Education Law.

Committee

Libraries · New York State Senate

Also referred to Libraries and Education Technology · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to allow public libraries to apply for and receive Employment Preparation Education (EPE) funds for pre-GED and other adult literacy services that are authorized under this program.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Libraries
Senate LibrariesApr 28, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Libraries
Senate LibrariesApr 8, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Kevin S. Parker and Steven Otis

Democratic2

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Siela Bynoe says this is needed

Current funding for Employment Preparation Education (EPE) programs is only available to school districts and BOCES. These programs provide educational services to persons twenty-one years of age or older who have dropped out of high school and did not receive a degree or GED, including employment skills, English as a Second Language courses, pre- GED classes, computer and Internet training, job readiness workshops, and financial literacy classes. Libraries provide many of the same educational services and should be able to take advantage of the funding dedicated to these services. This bill would allow public libraries to apply for and receive Employment Preparation Education (EPE) funds for pre-GED and other adult literacy services that are authorized under this program.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Apr 28, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
NY Assembly
Apr 8, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES
NY Senate

Show full history (1 earlier event)

Jan 30, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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