Bill Text: NY A02457 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Makes certain provisions applicable to public schools relating to instruction in civility, citizenship and character education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to education [A02457 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-A02457-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          2457
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    January 22, 2019
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Education
        AN ACT to amend  the  education  law,  in  relation  to  making  certain
          provisions  applicable  to  public  schools relating to instruction in
          civility, citizenship and character education
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1.  Section 801-a of the education law, as amended by chapter
     2  102 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
     3    § 801-a. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education.
     4  The regents shall ensure  that  the  course  of  instruction  in  grades
     5  kindergarten  through  twelve includes a component on civility, citizen-
     6  ship and character education. Such component shall instruct students  on
     7  the  principles  of honesty, tolerance, personal responsibility, respect
     8  for others, with an emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment,  bully-
     9  ing, discrimination, observance of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and
    10  other traits which will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and
    11  contributions  to,  the community. Such component shall include instruc-
    12  tion of safe, responsible use of the internet  and  electronic  communi-
    13  cations.  The  regents shall determine how to incorporate such component
    14  in existing curricula and the commissioner shall  promulgate  any  regu-
    15  lations  needed  to carry out such determination of the regents. For the
    16  purposes of this section for courses of instruction in  public  schools,
    17  "tolerance,"  "respect for others" and "dignity" shall include awareness
    18  and sensitivity to harassment, bullying, discrimination and civility  in
    19  the  relations  of people of different races, weights, national origins,
    20  ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abili-
    21  ties, sexual orientations, genders, and sexes.
    22    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD04253-01-9