Relates to authorizing the New York Liquidation Bureau to establish a reimbursement program for eligible local educational agencies

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic13
• Republican5

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Monica Martinez says this is needed

This legislation supports the continued implementation of the Child Victims Act (CVA) by providing a pathway for school districts to resolve outstanding claims in situations where their former insurance carriers have since entered liquidation. When the CVA lookback window was enacted, it was designed to provide long-overdue justice for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. However, some school districts are facing significant challenges in meeting their obligations under the law due to the insolvency of the insurers that covered them at the time the abuse occurred. As a result, these districts are left without access to the coverage they once held, even as survivors have received valid legal judgments or entered into good faith settlements. In these cases, the lack of available insurance has shifted the finan- cial responsibility onto school districts that may not have the resources to pay claims without making serious budgetary tradeoffs. Districts have been forced to consider using reserve funds, bonding to cover settlement costs, delaying capital projects, reducing programs, or limiting staff hires. These choices can have a direct and lasting impact on students, faculty, and the broader school community. While there is technically a path to restitution, it is not readily accessible and comes at the significant cost of weakening the core services school districts provide today. To address this issue, this legislation authorizes eligible school districts to apply for funds held by the New York Liquidation Bureau in scenarios where their insurer has been declared insolvent and that insolvency has directly blocked the payment of a CVA judgment or settle- ment. This measure does not create a new appropriation or entitlement. Instead, it allows the Bureau, which already manages and distributes assets from failed insurers, to evaluate and process applications from impacted school districts under its existing structure and authority. By establishing a clear process to access the appropriate liquidation funds, this legislation helps close a gap in the CVA framework that has left some survivors without a viable path to resolution. It also ensures that school districts are not forced to choose between honoring legal judgments and maintaining the educational services they provide to current students. This approach offers a balanced and practical solution that respects the rights of survivors while supporting the long-term strength and stability of school communities.

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.