The battle for fairness in education in New York State is underway again.

For years, the Bishops of New York have been fighting for some kind of financial relief for parents who pay tuition in Catholic schools. It seems only fair since parents who choose a Catholic education for their children are being hit twice in the pocketbook. Once, by paying taxes for public schools, and secondly, paying tuition for their own children’s education. The right to choose an education for your children is hardly a right if you can’t pay for it.

Last year, the effort came closer to fruition than ever before. Backed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and passed by the State Senate, a bill supporting donations to schools got stuck in the Assembly because of the pressure from the state’s powerful public school special interest groups.

This year, the campaign again is off to a great start with passage by the Senate by a vote of 47-15. It’s one of the first bills passed by the Senate this year and clearly demonstrates that the senators want it to be a priority in its budget negotiations with the governor.

Senate Bill 1976A was introduced by two Brooklyn legislators – State Senators Martin Golden, a Republican, and Simcha Felder, a Democrat. To be clear, this is not a tuition tax credit, but rather it is called an Education Investment Tax Credit. The proposal would provide tax incentives for qualified education donations to public schools, scholarship organizations, and local education funds.

For instance, if you were to make a donation to the diocese’s Futures in Education program that provides scholarships to Catholic school students, you would be eligible for a tax credit on your state tax returns.

The bill also would provide a refundable personal income tax credit for the purchase of instructional materials and supplies by teachers at public, charter, or non-public schools and by individuals who provide home-based instruction.

Sen. Golden said, “The bill would encourage donations to schools, scholarship funds, and support families of students educated through home school programs.”

He added that “in New York State, every student no matter where they attend classes deserves a quality education and the resources they need to succeed. This legislation will advance New York State’s interest in providing the highest quality of education to all students.”

Sen. Felder said, “It’s about time that tuition-paying parents start to get the relief they deserve. This bill needs to become law so at long last this goal is made a reality.”

Of course, the proposal has the full support of the New York State Catholic Conference, which serves as the bishops’ lobbying agent in Albany.

“For several years, the Education Tax Credit has been the top legislative priority of the Catholic Bishops of New York State,” explained Richard E. Barnes, executive director of the conference.

“As Cardinal Dolan has said, the Education Tax Credit is a no brainer in that it helps all schools and all families. For Catholic schools in particular, it can be a game changer in alleviating the funding crisis that has seen hundreds of quality school options for children across the state close in the past two decades simply because families cannot afford the rising costs.”

Cardinal Dolan was present at the opening session of the State Senate to lead the opening prayer. I’m sure he slipped in a few words for Catholic schools. But prayer couldn’t hurt either.