New York Assembly Bill A01061

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Establishes community literacy programs and the community literacy fund to provide grants to non-profit organizations that assist adults in reading, writing, math, English language proficiency, and problem-solving skills.

Summary

This bill establishes a new Community Literacy Program article in the Education Law and creates a Community Literacy Fund in the State Finance Law. The program would authorize the Commissioner of Education to award grants to eligible nonprofit agencies that provide adult education and literacy services to New York residents, including organizations that use volunteers directly or provide technical assistance to other literacy providers. The bill defines adult education and literacy services broadly to include reading, writing, math, English language proficiency, and problem-solving skills. The bill also sets out a grant application and administration framework. Eligible agencies would submit proposals to the commissioner, who would adopt regulations governing eligibility, award procedures, and reporting requirements. The bill requires annual reporting by the commissioner to the governor and legislative leaders on the programs funded under the article. It takes effect immediately.

Impact

The bill would amend the Education Law by adding a new article governing community literacy programs and would amend the State Finance Law to establish a dedicated Community Literacy Fund in joint custody of the state comptroller and the commissioner of education. It would make state funds available for grants to qualifying nonprofit literacy providers and prohibit for-profit entities from serving as fiscal agents for these grants. The measure would also require the Education Department to create rules for eligibility, grant distribution, and performance reporting, and would require annual program evaluation reports to the executive and legislature.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally positive or supportive intent around the bill, as it is framed as a grant program to expand adult literacy services and support nonprofit organizations serving adults with basic skills needs. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of formal opposition or support in the legislative record included here. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be presented as a service-expansion and capacity-building proposal rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are likely to be administrative and fiscal rather than ideological. The bill gives the commissioner broad discretion to set eligibility criteria, award amounts, reporting schedules, and implementation rules, which could raise questions about oversight and transparency. Another possible issue is the restriction that for-profit agencies may not act as fiscal agents, which limits participation to nonprofit structures. Because no discussion transcripts or votes were provided, no specific legislators, stakeholders, or organized objections can be identified from the record here.