Relates to observance of all religious holidays by institutions within the state university and the city university of New York; includes the Asian Lunar New Year within the definition of such holidays.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
285
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, COLTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
RAMOS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the observance of all
religious holidays by institutions within the state university and the
city university of New York, and including the Asian Lunar New Year
within the definition of such holidays
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 224-a of the education law is amended by adding a
2 new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
3 8. Notwithstanding the definition of "religious belief" as defined in
4 subdivision seven of this section, any student that celebrates the
5 cultural observance of the Asian Lunar New Year shall be excused for
6 that cultural observance in the same manner as students excused due to
7 such students' religious beliefs pursuant to this section.
8 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6235 to read
9 as follows:
10 § 6235. Students unable because of religious beliefs to register or
11 attend classes on certain days. 1. No person shall be expelled from or
12 be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education
13 for the reason that such person is unable, because of such person's
14 religious beliefs, to register or attend classes or to participate in
15 any examination, study or work requirements on a particular day or days.
16 2. Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable,
17 because of such student's religious beliefs, to attend classes on a
18 particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular
19 day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work
20 requirements.
21 3. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the adminis-
22 trative officials of each institution of higher education to make avail-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01196-01-5
A. 285 2
1 able to each student who is absent from school, because of such
2 student's religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for
3 classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which
4 such student may have missed because of such absence on any particular
5 day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for
6 making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
7 4. If registration, classes, examinations, study or work requirements
8 are held on Friday after four o'clock post meridian or on Saturday,
9 similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements or
10 opportunity to register shall be made available on other days, where it
11 is possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged
12 to the student for these classes, examinations, study or work require-
13 ments or registration held on other days.
14 5. In effectuating the provisions of this section, it shall be the
15 duty of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institu-
16 tion of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith.
17 No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of
18 such student availing themself of the provisions of this section.
19 6. Any student, who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty
20 or administrative officials to comply in good faith with the provisions
21 of this section, shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding
22 in the supreme court of the county in which such institution of higher
23 education is located for the enforcement of such student's rights under
24 this section.
25 7. It shall be the responsibility of the administrative officials of
26 each institution of higher education to give written notice to students
27 of their rights under this section, informing them that each student who
28 is absent from school, because of such student's religious beliefs,
29 shall be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make
30 up any examination, study or work requirements which such student may
31 have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. No
32 fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making avail-
33 able to such student such equivalent opportunity.
34 8. As used in this section, the term "institution of higher education"
35 shall mean any institution of higher education, recognized and approved
36 by the board of trustees of the city university of New York, which
37 provides a course of study leading to the granting of a post-secondary
38 degree or diploma. Such term shall not include any institution which is
39 operated, supervised or controlled by a church or by a religious or
40 denominational organization whose educational programs are principally
41 designed for the purpose of training ministers or other religious func-
42 tionaries or for the purpose of propagating religious doctrines. As used
43 in this section, the term "religious belief" shall mean beliefs associ-
44 ated with any corporation organized and operated exclusively for reli-
45 gious purposes, which is not disqualified for tax exemption under
46 section 501 of the United States Code.
47 9. Notwithstanding the definition of "religious belief" as defined in
48 subdivision eight of this section, any student that celebrates the
49 cultural observance of the Asian Lunar New Year shall be excused for
50 that cultural observance in the same manner as students excused due to
51 such students' religious beliefs pursuant to this section.
52 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
