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A08558 Summary:

A08558 Actions:

A08558 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
 submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)



 
BILL NUMBER: A8558
 
SPONSOR: Goldfeder

 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law in relation to
providing for the observance of September 11th Remembrance Day and
providing for the observance of a brief period of silence in public
school classrooms at the opening of such day
 
 
PURPOSE:
 
This legislation would mandate a brief moment of silent reflection and
in public schools state-wide at the start of the school day on every
September 11th to encourage dialogue and education in the classroom, and
ensure that future generations have an understanding of the September

11th, 2001 terrorist attacks and their place in the history of our state
and the nation.  00
 
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
 
The act amends subdivision 2(a) of section 802 of the education law to
direct the State Education Commissioner to make special provision for
the observance of September 11th Remembrance Day in Public Schools.
 
The act further amends section 802 of the education law by introducing
subdivision 2(b), which mandates that public school classroom teachers
observe a brief period of silence with the participation of all pupils
assembled at the opening of the school day on the 11th of September,
known as the September 11th Remembrance Day.
 
The act further stipulates that said period shall not be conducted as a
religious exercise, but shall be an opportunity for silent prayer or for
silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day.
 
 
JUSTIFICATION:
 
The terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 were a defining moment in

the history of New York State and of the country.  The tremendous loss
caused by this unspeakable act was most acutely felt by the many citi-
zens of our great state, many of who suffered great personal loss in the
attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and in the fields of
Shanksville, Pennsylvania. As the average school-age citizen of our
state may have no personal recollection of these events, having not yet
been born in 2001, it is imperative that our public education system
take the time to educate students in both the loss and heroism experi-
enced on September 11th.  By mandating a brief moment of silent
reflection every year on the September 11th Remembrance Day, we may
ensure that future generations will better understand this day and its
place in our history.
 
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
None.
 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

A08558 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          8558
 
                               2015-2016 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    October 30, 2015
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  GOLDFEDER  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Education
 
        AN ACT to amend the education law  in  relation  to  providing  for  the
          observance  of  September  11th  Remembrance Day and providing for the
          observance of a brief period of silence in public school classrooms at
          the opening of such day

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.    Subdivision  2  of  section 802 of the education law is
     2  amended to read as follows:
     3    2. a. It shall also be his duty to  make  special  provision  for  the
     4  observance  in  the  public  schools of Lincoln's birthday, Washington's
     5  birthday, Memorial day and Flag day, and such other  legal  holidays  of
     6  like  character  as may be hereafter designated by law when the legisla-
     7  ture makes an appropriation therefor.
     8    It shall also be his duty to make special provision for the observance
     9  in the public schools of September 11th Remembrance Day.
    10    b. In each public school classroom the teacher in charge shall observe
    11  a brief period of silence with the participation of all the pupils ther-
    12  ein assembled at the opening of the eleventh day of September, known  as
    13  September  11th Remembrance Day. This period shall not be conducted as a
    14  religious exercise but shall be an opportunity for silent prayer or  for
    15  silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day.
    16    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD11972-03-5