NY S07183

Transfers appointment of impartial hearing officers in New York City school districts (population over 1 million) from the board of education to the office of administrative trials and hearings, effective after a transition period.

Requires impartial hearing officers to be independent adjudicators with minimum 5 years law practice experience, including at least 1 year in education, special education, disability rights, civil rights or administrative law.

Permits testimony in impartial hearings to be given in person, by telephone, or video conference, under oath and subject to cross-examination, with confidentiality protections for student data.

Establishes a special education hearings division within the NYC office of administrative trials and hearings under the chief administrative law judge's authority to manage staffing, certification, compensation, case assignment, and case disposition deadlines.

Includes a transition period ending January 1, 2022 (or 30 days after office certification) during which NYC school district may refer cases to either existing impartial hearing officers or the office of administrative trials and hearings using a random assignment system.