New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

New York Assembly Bill A03949

Introduced
1/30/25  
Refer
1/30/25  
Report Pass
5/28/25  
Refer
5/28/25  
Report Pass
6/4/25  
Refer
6/4/25  
Report Pass
6/6/25  
Engrossed
6/6/25  
Refer
6/6/25  
Engrossed
6/11/25  
Enrolled
8/12/25  
Chaptered
8/15/25  

Caption

Authorizes the Jamesville-DeWitt central school district to discontinue the use of school district-owned parklands and to lease such parklands to the town of Onondaga for use by such town for park and/or recreational purposes.

Summary

A03949 authorizes the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District in Onondaga County to discontinue school-district-owned parkland and lease the identified 14.85-acre parcel to the Town of Onondaga for park and/or recreational use. The lease must be at fair market value, may run for up to 30 years, and is conditioned on the town continuing public access for district residents and not charging them higher fees than other town residents who are not in the district. The bill also requires that lease proceeds be dedicated to acquiring new parkland and/or making capital improvements to existing park and recreational facilities. If the property stops being used for the authorized park/recreation purposes, the lease terminates and the land reverts to the school district for park and recreation purposes. The town must maintain and operate the land and facilities for park purposes, and the property must remain available to the general public, with equitable methods used if access is limited.

Impact

This bill creates a local, property-specific authorization that overrides the usual constraints on the school district’s ability to discontinue parkland use and lease district-owned parkland. It affects the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District and the Town of Onondaga by transferring operational use of the parcel to the town while preserving public access and imposing use, pricing, and reversion conditions. It does not broadly amend statewide parkland law, but it establishes a special statutory exception for this parcel and directs how lease revenue must be spent.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have strong overall support. It advanced unanimously or near-unanimously through committee stages and passed both the Assembly and Senate with large margins, indicating broad bipartisan acceptance of the local parkland arrangement. The voting history suggests little organized opposition to the measure as drafted.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the available record. The main policy issues embedded in the bill are the loss of direct school-district control over the parkland, the long-term lease to the town, and the requirement that district residents retain access without higher fees. Any concerns would likely center on ensuring the land remains public parkland, that the lease value is fair market value, and that proceeds are properly reinvested in parks and recreation, but no specific objections are reflected in the provided materials.

Companion Bills

NY S05557

Same As Authorizes the Jamesville-DeWitt central school district to discontinue the use of school district-owned parklands and to lease such parklands to the town of Onondaga for use by such town for park and/or recreational purposes.

Previously Filed As

NY S05557

Authorizes the Jamesville-DeWitt central school district to discontinue the use of school district-owned parklands and to lease such parklands to the town of Onondaga for use by such town for park and/or recreational purposes.

NY S09108

Authorizes the town of Niagara to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands and to convey such parklands to David Gaines.

NY A09007

Authorizes the town of Niagara to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands and to convey such parklands to David Gaines.

NY S07493

Authorizes the town of Niagara to alienate and discontinue the use of certain parklands.

NY S09079

Authorizes the town of Brookhaven to alienate certain lands used as parklands and to lease such lands for a cell tower installation.

NY A10326

Authorizes the town of Brookhaven to alienate certain lands used as parklands and to lease such lands for a cell tower installation.

NY S07537

Authorizes the town of Hurley to alienate certain lands used as parklands for the purpose of constructing a new highway garage for the town and to dedicate certain other lands as parklands.

NY A08146

Authorizes the town of Hurley to alienate certain lands used as parklands for the purpose of constructing a new highway garage for the town and to dedicate certain other lands as parklands.

NY S07834

Authorizes the town of Ithaca, county of Tompkins, to discontinue as parklands and alienate certain lands for the purpose of maintaining and operating such lands for agricultural purposes.

NY A08371

Authorizes the town of Ithaca, county of Tompkins, to discontinue as parklands and alienate certain lands for the purpose of maintaining and operating such lands for agricultural purposes.

Similar Bills

NY S05557

Authorizes the Jamesville-DeWitt central school district to discontinue the use of school district-owned parklands and to lease such parklands to the town of Onondaga for use by such town for park and/or recreational purposes.

NY S10337

Exempts the Liverpool Fire Department within the town of Salina, Onondaga county, from the requirement that the percentage of non-resident fire department members not exceed forty-five percent of the membership.

NY A11297

Exempts the Liverpool Fire Department from the requirement that the percentage of non-resident fire department members not exceed forty-five percent of the membership

NY A09199

Exempts the Caughdenoy Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., within the town of Central Square, Oswego county from the forty-five percent limit on non-resident members.

NY A09200

Exempts the Cody Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. within the town of Granby, Oswego county, from the requirement that the percentage of non-resident fire department members not exceed forty-five percent of the membership.

NY S10176

Exempts the East Concord Fire Department, Inc. from the requirement that the percentage of non-resident fire department members not exceed forty-five percent of the membership.

NY S08681

Exempts the Cody Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. within the town of Granby, Oswego county, from the requirement that the percentage of non-resident fire department members not exceed forty-five percent of the membership.

NY S10028

Exempts the East Herkimer Volunteer Fire Department No. 1, Inc. from the requirement that the percentage of non-resident fire department members not exceed forty-five percent of the membership.