Enacts the "fostering optimal classroom use of screens (FOCUS) act" to limit use of internet enabled and electronic devices and prioritize non-digital teaching methods; prohibits use by younger students; limits and restricts certain uses by older students; requires written policies for opting in for the school issued devices; prohibits social media applications, gaming and AI in school issued devices; requires registration by educational technology providers.
Prohibits humanoid robots and AI systems from being used in schools; provides limited exceptions; provides for student privacy protections; makes related provisions.
Provides that each school district, charter school, and board of cooperative educational services shall adopt and implement a written policy governing the use of humanoid robots in schools and that such policy shall prohibit the use of an artificial intelligence-enabled humanoid robot in an instructional capacity; defines terms.
This bill proposes to amend the state constitution to allow the legislature to change or remove tax exemptions for real property owned by private colleges and universities. Currently, the constitution protects tax exemptions for religious, educational, and charitable organizations, but this measure would create a specific exception for private higher education institutions. If passed, the government would gain the authority to alter or end these tax breaks, whereas other non-profit entities would retain their protected status. The bill requires publication and a public vote in a future election before it can take effect.
This bill modifies the workers' compensation law to exclude unpaid student interns from coverage. It directly affects students enrolled in secondary schools, charter schools, or cooperative educational services who participate in unpaid internship or externship programs. The legislation defines a "student intern" as someone whose primary purpose in the program is educational or training-related, and it removes them from the legal definition of "employment" for the purposes of this specific insurance law. By making this change, the bill ensures that these specific unpaid trainees are not considered employees under the workers' compensation system.
Adds to the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree the possession, within any facility owned or operated by the state or upon school grounds, of any controlled substance or hazardous substance which has the potential to cause significant injury or death, with the intent to sell or distribute such substance.
This bill prevents state officers and university leaders from receiving salary increases that would make their pay higher than the governor's. It directly affects the governor, state officers, and the chancellors and presidents of the State University of New York and the City University of New York. The law requires these university leaders to create new salary plans in consultation with the governor's office and the budget division, ensuring their total compensation stays below the governor's level. Any funding for these salary increases must come from reallocating existing budget funds rather than new appropriations. The changes are scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2027.
Prohibits the use of most artificial intelligence in classrooms prior to high school except for AI used for diagnostic purposes or explicit instruction interventions for students with disabilities.
Adds to the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree the possession, within any facility owned or operated by the state or upon school grounds, of any controlled substance or hazardous substance which has the potential to cause significant injury or death, with the intent to sell or distribute such substance.
Prohibits students from accessing their wireless communications devices on school property, unless authorized for classroom use; prohibits students from accessing social media platforms through the use of internet access provided by the school district, except when expressly directed to for class instruction.
