Bill Text: NY A03261 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a course of instruction in the awareness of hate crimes

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-5)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - referred to education [A03261 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-A03261-Introduced.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         3261
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   January 23, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by M. of A. BENJAMIN, ALFANO, JEFFRIES, MILLMAN, BROOK-KRAS-
         NY, EDDINGTON, GREENE, CYMBROWITZ, SPANO, ERRIGO, WALKER, ESPAILLAT --
         Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.  BRENNAN, COLTON, CROUCH, DIAZ, DUPREY,
         MAISEL, MAYERSOHN, ROBINSON, WEISENBERG -- read once and  referred  to
         the Committee on Education
       AN  ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring a course of
         instruction in the awareness of hate crimes
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 815 to
    2  read as follows:
    3    S  815. COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN THE AWARENESS OF HATE CRIMES. 1.  THE
    4  COMMISSIONER IS HEREBY DIRECTED TO PROVIDE AND  PRESCRIBE  A  COURSE  OF
    5  INSTRUCTION  DESIGNED  TO  INCREASE  AWARENESS OF THE COMMISSION OF HATE
    6  CRIMES. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION HATE CRIMES SHALL MEAN OFFENSES
    7  WHICH ARE COMMITTED BASED UPON THE RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN,  ANCES-
    8  TRY,  GENDER,  RELIGION,  RELIGIOUS  PRACTICE, AGE, DISABILITY OR SEXUAL
    9  ORIENTATION OF THE VICTIM. SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL  INCLUDE  EXAMPLES  OF
   10  SYMBOLS  AND  OBJECTS  ASSOCIATED  WITH  HATE  CRIMES AND THE EVENTS AND
   11  HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE SURROUNDING SUCH  SYMBOLS  AND  OBJECTS.    SUCH
   12  INSTRUCTION SHALL ALSO FOCUS ON THE MORAL ASPECTS AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
   13  OF SUCH OFFENSES AND PROMOTE ATTITUDES OF TOLERANCE AND ACCEPTANCE.
   14    2.  THE  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION,  TRUSTEES, PRINCIPAL OR OTHER PERSON IN
   15  CHARGE OF EVERY PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOL IN THE STATE  SHALL
   16  ARRANGE  FOR GIVING SUCH COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN EVERY SCHOOL UNDER ITS
   17  OR HIS OR HER CONTROL OR DIRECTION. SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL BE  GIVEN  TO
   18  ALL  OF  THE  PUPILS  IN EVERY SUCH SCHOOL FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN
   19  FORTY-FIVE MINUTES IN EACH MONTH DURING WHICH SUCH SCHOOL IS IN SESSION.
   20    S 2. This act shall  take  effect  on  the  first  of  September  next
   21  succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD05773-01-9