NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A416
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to expanding the require-
ments for teaching humane education to secondary school students and
provides for the verification of compliance of such instruction
PURPOSE::
This bill expands the requirements for teaching humane education to
secondary school students.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS::
Section 1 and 1 (a) amend subdivision 1 of section 809 of the education
law, as amended by chapter 542 of the laws of 1994, to require that the
officer, board, or commission authorized or required to prescribe cours-
es of instruction shall cause instruction to be given in every elementa-
ry school under state control or supported wholly or partly by public
money of the state in the humane treatment and protection of animals.
Section 1 (b) requires that that the officer, board, or commission
authorized or required to prescribe courses of instruction shall cause
instruction to be given in every secondary school under state control or
supported wholly or partly by public money of the state in the humane
treatment and protection of animals. The commissioner shall determine
how to incorporate such instruction in existing curricula and shall
promulgate any regulations needed to carry out such determination.
Section 1 (c) states that a school district shall not be entitled to
receive public school funding on behalf of any school subject to the
provisions of this section if that school fails to provide the instruc-
tion required pursuant to this section.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION::
This bill is needed to ensure that elementary and secondary school
students in New York State are properly instructed in the humane treat-
ment and protection of animals and the importance of the part they play
in the economy of nature as well as the necessity of controlling the
proliferation of animals which are subsequently abandoned and caused to
suffer extreme cruelty. For secondary school students, such instruction
would involve educating students about the principles of kindness to and
respect for animals and the proper observance of laws and rules pertain-
ing to their humane treatment.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
2021-22: A.2082 - Referred to Education; S.7670 - Referred to Education
2019-20: A.1063-A - Referred to Education
2017-18: A.2137 - Referred to Education
2015-16: A.518 - Referred to Education
2013-14: A.782 - Referred to Education
2011-12: A.1925 - Referred to Education
2009-10: A.6126 - Referred to Education
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This bill shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
