NY A01223

Allows union free school districts in Rockland county to establish 3-9 school election wards for electing individual trustees by board resolution and mandatory voter referendum.

Allows central school districts in Rockland county to establish 5, 7, or 9 school election wards for electing individual school board members by board resolution and mandatory voter referendum.

Requires boards to conduct at least three public hearings and provide assessment findings addressing potential historic disenfranchisement or discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation before submitting ward proposals to voters.

Establishes requirements for ward boundaries to be contiguous, contain approximately equal populations, conform to school attendance zones and geographic boundaries, and retain contiguous communities of interest; requires redistricting review after each decennial census.

Does not apply to school districts already subject to court orders regarding school election wards and does not interfere with existing court orders.