Bill Text: NY S01985 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires a course of instruction in the awareness of hate crimes focusing on historical events and the significance of certain symbols and objects.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION [S01985 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-S01985-Introduced.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         1985
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                   February 10, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sen.  DIAZ  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
         printed to be committed 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