A03661 Summary:
BILL NO | A03661C |
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SAME AS | SAME AS S01987-B |
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SPONSOR | O'Donnell (MS) |
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COSPNSR | Glick, Nolan, Lifton, Benjamin, Fields, McEneny, Clark, Paulin, Rosenthal, John, Galef, Hevesi, Espaillat, Englebright, Kavanagh, Powell, Rivera N, Lancman, Stirpe, Hoyt, Dinowitz, Jaffee, Schimel, Cahill, Brodsky, Titone, Boyland, Skartados, DenDekker, Alessi, Weprin D |
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MLTSPNSR | Alfano, Ball, Barra, Bing, Brennan, Farrell, Gianaris, Gottfried, Jacobs, Jeffries, Kellner, Koon, Latimer, Lupardo, Markey, Millman, Peoples-Stokes, Perry, Pheffer, Sweeney, Weisenberg, Wright |
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Add Art 2 SS10 - 18, amd SS801-a & 2801, Ed L | |
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Enacts the "Dignity For All Students Act"; authorizes the commissioner of education to establish policies and procedures affording all students in public schools an environment free of harassment and discrimination; requires reporting harassment and discrimination to such commission; makes exemptions. |
A03661 Actions:
BILL NO | A03661C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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01/28/2009 | referred to education | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/04/2009 | reported referred to codes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/20/2009 | amend and recommit to codes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/20/2009 | print number 3661a | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
03/16/2009 | amend and recommit to codes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
03/16/2009 | print number 3661b | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
03/31/2009 | reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04/02/2009 | advanced to third reading cal.284 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04/07/2009 | passed assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04/07/2009 | delivered to senate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
04/07/2009 | REFERRED TO EDUCATION | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/06/2010 | DIED IN SENATE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/06/2010 | RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/06/2010 | ordered to third reading cal.275 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/08/2010 | amended on third reading 3661c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/17/2010 | passed assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/17/2010 | delivered to senate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/17/2010 | REFERRED TO EDUCATION | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/22/2010 | SUBSTITUTED FOR S1987B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/22/2010 | 3RD READING CAL.1070 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/22/2010 | MOTION TO AMEND LOST | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/22/2010 | PASSED SENATE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/22/2010 | RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
09/07/2010 | delivered to governor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
09/13/2010 | signed chap.482 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
09/13/2010 | approval memo.22 |
A03661 Floor Votes:
Yes
Abbate
Yes
Canestrari
No
Fitzpatrick
Yes
Kellner
Yes
Oaks
Yes
Sayward
Yes
Alessi
ER
Carrozza
Yes
Gabryszak
Yes
Kolb
Yes
O'Donnell
Yes
Scarborough
Yes
Alfano
Yes
Castro
Yes
Galef
Yes
Koon
Yes
O'Mara
Yes
Schimel
Yes
Amedore
Yes
Christensen
ER
Gantt
Yes
Lancman
Yes
Ortiz
Yes
Schimminger
Yes
Arroyo
Yes
Clark
Yes
Gianaris
Yes
Latimer
Yes
Parment
Yes
Schroeder
ER
Aubry
Yes
Colton
Yes
Giglio
Yes
Lavine
Yes
Paulin
Yes
Scozzafava
Yes
Bacalles
Yes
Conte
Yes
Glick
Yes
Lentol
Yes
Peoples
Yes
Seminerio
Yes
Ball
Yes
Cook
Yes
Gordon
Yes
Lifton
Yes
Peralta
Yes
Skartados
Yes
Barclay
Yes
Corwin
Yes
Gottfried
Yes
Lopez PD
Yes
Perry
Yes
Spano
Yes
Barra
Yes
Crouch
Yes
Greene
Yes
Lopez VJ
Yes
Pheffer
Yes
Stirpe
Yes
Barron
Yes
Cusick
Yes
Gunther
Yes
Lupardo
Yes
Powell
Yes
Sweeney
Yes
Benedetto
Yes
Cymbrowitz
Yes
Hawley
Yes
Magee
Yes
Pretlow
ER
Tedisco
Yes
Benjamin
Yes
DelMonte
Yes
Hayes
Yes
Magnarelli
Yes
Quinn
Yes
Thiele
Yes
Bing
Yes
DenDekker
Yes
Heastie
Yes
Maisel
Yes
Rabbitt
ER
Titone
Yes
Boyland
Yes
Destito
Yes
Hevesi
Yes
Markey
Yes
Raia
Yes
Titus
Yes
Boyle
ER
Diaz
ER
Hikind
Yes
Mayersohn
Yes
Ramos
Yes
Tobacco
ER
Bradley
Yes
Dinowitz
Yes
Hooper
Yes
McDonough
Yes
Reilich
ER
Towns
Yes
Brennan
Yes
Duprey
Yes
Hoyt
Yes
McEneny
Yes
Reilly
No
Townsend
Yes
Brodsky
Yes
Eddington
Yes
Hyer Spencer
Yes
McKevitt
Yes
Rivera J
Yes
Walker
Yes
Brook Krasny
Yes
Englebright
ER
Jacobs
Yes
Meng
ER
Rivera N
Yes
Weinstein
No
Burling
Yes
Errigo
Yes
Jaffee
Yes
Miller
Yes
Rivera PM
ER
Weisenberg
No
Butler
Yes
Espaillat
Yes
Jeffries
Yes
Millman
Yes
Robinson
Yes
Weprin
Yes
Cahill
Yes
Farrell
Yes
John
Yes
Molinaro
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Wright
Yes
Calhoun
Yes
Fields
Yes
Jordan
Yes
Morelle
Yes
Russell
Yes
Zebrowski
ER
Camara
Yes
Finch
Yes
Kavanagh
ER
Nolan
No
Saladino
Yes
Mr. Speaker
‡ Indicates voting via videoconference
Yes
Abbate
ER
Carrozza
Yes
Gabryszak
Yes
Kolb
Yes
Murray
Yes
Saladino
Yes
Alessi
Yes
Castelli
Yes
Galef
Yes
Koon
Yes
Nolan
Yes
Sayward
Yes
Alfano
Yes
Castro
Yes
Gantt
Yes
Lancman
Yes
Oaks
Yes
Scarborough
Yes
Amedore
Yes
Christensen
Yes
Gianaris
ER
Latimer
Yes
O'Donnell
Yes
Schimel
Yes
Arroyo
Yes
Clark
Yes
Gibson
Yes
Lavine
Yes
O'Mara
Yes
Schimminger
Yes
Aubry
Yes
Colton
Yes
Giglio
Yes
Lentol
Yes
Ortiz
Yes
Schroeder
Yes
Bacalles
Yes
Conte
Yes
Glick
Yes
Lifton
Yes
Parment
Yes
Scozzafava
Yes
Ball
ER
Cook
Yes
Gordon
Yes
Lopez PD
Yes
Paulin
Yes
Skartados
Yes
Barclay
Yes
Corwin
Yes
Gottfried
Yes
Lopez VJ
Yes
Peoples
Yes
Spano
Yes
Barra
Yes
Crespo
Yes
Gunther
Yes
Lupardo
Yes
Perry
Yes
Stirpe
Yes
Barron
Yes
Crouch
Yes
Hawley
Yes
Magee
Yes
Pheffer
Yes
Sweeney
Yes
Benedetto
Yes
Cusick
Yes
Hayes
Yes
Magnarelli
Yes
Powell
Yes
Tedisco
Yes
Benjamin
Yes
Cymbrowitz
Yes
Heastie
Yes
Maisel
Yes
Pretlow
ER
Thiele
Yes
Bing
Yes
DelMonte
Yes
Hevesi
Yes
Markey
Yes
Quinn
Yes
Titone
Yes
Boyland
Yes
DenDekker
ER
Hikind
Yes
Mayersohn
Yes
Rabbitt
Yes
Titus
Yes
Boyle
Yes
Destito
Yes
Hooper
Yes
McDonough
Yes
Raia
Yes
Tobacco
Yes
Brennan
Yes
Dinowitz
Yes
Hoyt
Yes
McEneny
Yes
Ramos
Yes
Towns
Yes
Brodsky
Yes
Duprey
Yes
Hyer Spencer
Yes
McKevitt
Yes
Reilich
No
Townsend
Yes
Brook Krasny
Yes
Englebright
Yes
Jacobs
Yes
Meng
Yes
Reilly
Yes
Weinstein
No
Burling
Yes
Errigo
Yes
Jaffee
Yes
Miller JM
Yes
Rivera J
ER
Weisenberg
No
Butler
Yes
Espaillat
Yes
Jeffries
Yes
Miller MG
Yes
Rivera N
Yes
Weprin
Yes
Cahill
Yes
Farrell
Yes
John
Yes
Millman
Yes
Rivera PM
ER
Wright
Yes
Calhoun
Yes
Fields
Yes
Jordan
Yes
Molinaro
Yes
Robinson
Yes
Zebrowski
Yes
Camara
Yes
Finch
Yes
Kavanagh
Yes
Montesano
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Mr. Speaker
Yes
Canestrari
No
Fitzpatrick
Yes
Kellner
Yes
Morelle
Yes
Russell
‡ Indicates voting via videoconference
A03661 Text:
Go to top STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 3661--C Cal. No. 275 2009-2010 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 28, 2009 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. O'DONNELL, GLICK, NOLAN, LIFTON, BENJAMIN, FIELDS, McENENY, CLARK, PAULIN, ROSENTHAL, JOHN, GALEF, HEVESI, ESPAILLAT, ENGLEBRIGHT, KAVANAGH, POWELL, N. RIVERA, LANCMAN, PERALTA, STIRPE, HOYT, DINOWITZ, JAFFEE, SCHIMEL, CAHILL, BRODSKY, TITONE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ALFANO, BARRA, BING, BRENNAN, FARRELL, GIANARIS, GOTTFRIED, JACOBS, JEFFRIES, KELLNER, KOON, LATIMER, LUPAR- DO, MARKEY, MILLMAN, PEOPLES-STOKES, PERRY, PHEFFER, SWEENEY, WEISEN- BERG, WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the dignity for all students act The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 the "dignity for all students act". 3 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 2 to read as 4 follows: 5 ARTICLE 2 6 DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS 7 Section 10. Legislative intent. 8 11. Definitions. 9 12. Discrimination and harassment prohibited. 10 13. Policies and guidelines. 11 14. Commissioner's responsibilities. 12 15. Reporting by commissioner. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD01245-11-0A. 3661--C 2 1 16. Protection of people who report discrimination or harass- 2 ment. 3 17. Application. 4 18. Severability and construction. 5 § 10. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that students' ability 6 to learn and to meet high academic standards, and a school's ability to 7 educate its students, are compromised by incidents of discrimination or 8 harassment including bullying, taunting or intimidation. It is hereby 9 declared to be the policy of the state to afford all students in public 10 schools an environment free of discrimination and harassment. The 11 purpose of this article is to foster civility in public schools and to 12 prevent and prohibit conduct which is inconsistent with a school's 13 educational mission. 14 § 11. Definitions. For the purposes of this article, the following 15 terms shall have the following meanings: 16 1. "School property" shall mean in or within any building, structure, 17 athletic playing field, playground, parking lot, or land contained with- 18 in the real property boundary line of a public elementary or secondary 19 school; or in or on a school bus, as defined in section one hundred 20 forty-two of the vehicle and traffic law. 21 2. "School function" shall mean a school-sponsored extra-curricular 22 event or activity. 23 3. "Disability" shall mean disability as defined in subdivision twen- 24 ty-one of section two hundred ninety-two of the executive law. 25 4. "Employee" shall mean employee as defined in subdivision three of 26 section eleven hundred twenty-five of this title. 27 5. "Sexual orientation" shall mean actual or perceived heterosexuali- 28 ty, homosexuality or bisexuality. 29 6. "Gender" shall mean actual or perceived sex and shall include a 30 person's gender identity or expression. 31 7. "Harassment" shall mean the creation of a hostile environment by 32 conduct or by verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that has or would 33 have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a 34 student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, 35 emotional or physical well-being; or conduct, verbal threats, intim- 36 idation or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected 37 to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety; such conduct, 38 verbal threats, intimidation or abuse includes but is not limited to 39 conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse based on a person's actu- 40 al or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, 41 religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or 42 sex. 43 § 12. Discrimination and harassment prohibited. 1. No student shall 44 be subjected to harassment by employees or students on school property 45 or at a school function; nor shall any student be subjected to discrimi- 46 nation based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, 47 national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, 48 sexual orientation, gender, or sex by school employees or students on 49 school property or at a school function. Nothing in this subdivision 50 shall be construed to prohibit a denial of admission into, or exclusion 51 from, a course of instruction based on a person's gender that would be 52 permissible under section thirty-two hundred one-a or paragraph (a) of 53 subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty-four of this chap- 54 ter and title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. section 55 1681, et. seq.), or to prohibit, as discrimination based on disability,A. 3661--C 3 1 actions that would be permissible under section 504 of the Rehabili- 2 tation Act of 1973. 3 2. An age-appropriate version of the policy outlined in subdivision 4 one of this section, written in plain-language, shall be included in the 5 code of conduct adopted by boards of education and the trustees or sole 6 trustee pursuant to section twenty-eight hundred one of this chapter and 7 a summary of such policy shall be included in any summaries required by 8 such section twenty-eight hundred one. 9 § 13. Policies and guidelines. The board of education and the trus- 10 tees or sole trustee of every school district shall create policies and 11 guidelines that shall include, but not be limited to: 12 1. Policies intended to create a school environment that is free from 13 discrimination or harassment; 14 2. Guidelines to be used in school training programs to discourage the 15 development of discrimination or harassment and that are designed: 16 a. to raise the awareness and sensitivity of school employees to 17 potential discrimination or harassment, and 18 b. to enable employees to prevent and respond to discrimination or 19 harassment; and 20 3. Guidelines relating to the development of nondiscriminatory 21 instructional and counseling methods, and requiring that at least one 22 staff member at every school be thoroughly trained to handle human 23 relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic 24 group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, 25 gender, and sex. 26 § 14. Commissioner's responsibilities. The commissioner shall: 27 1. Provide direction, which may include development of model policies 28 and, to the extent possible, direct services, to school districts 29 related to preventing discrimination and harassment and to fostering an 30 environment in every school where all children can learn free of 31 manifestations of bias; 32 2. Provide grants, from funds appropriated for such purpose, to local 33 school districts to assist them in implementing the guidelines set forth 34 in this section; and 35 3. Promulgate regulations to assist school districts in implementing 36 this article including, but not limited to, regulations to assist school 37 districts in developing measured, balanced, and age-appropriate 38 responses to violations of this policy, with remedies and procedures 39 focusing on intervention and education. 40 § 15. Reporting by commissioner. The commissioner shall create a 41 procedure under which material incidents of discrimination and harass- 42 ment on school grounds or at a school function are reported to the 43 department at least on an annual basis. Such procedure shall provide 44 that such reports shall, wherever possible, also delineate the specific 45 nature of such incidents of discrimination or harassment, provided that 46 the commissioner may comply with the requirements of this section 47 through use of the existing uniform violent incident reporting system. 48 In addition the department may conduct research or undertake studies to 49 determine compliance throughout the state with the provisions of this 50 article. 51 § 16. Protection of people who report discrimination or harassment. 52 Any person having reasonable cause to suspect that a student has been 53 subjected to discrimination or harassment by an employee or student, on 54 school grounds or at a school function, who, acting reasonably and in 55 good faith, either reports such information to school officials, to the 56 commissioner, or to law enforcement authorities or otherwise initiates,A. 3661--C 4 1 testifies, participates or assists in any formal or informal proceedings 2 under this article, shall have immunity from any civil liability that 3 may arise from the making of such report or from initiating, testifying, 4 participating or assisting in such formal or informal proceedings, and 5 no school district or employee shall take, request or cause a retaliato- 6 ry action against any such person who, acting reasonably and in good 7 faith, either makes such a report or initiates, testifies, participates 8 or assists in such formal or informal proceedings. 9 § 17. Application. Nothing in this article shall: 10 1. Apply to private, religious or denominational educational insti- 11 tutions; or 12 2. Preclude or limit any right or cause of action provided under any 13 local, state or federal ordinance, law or regulation including but not 14 limited to any remedies or rights available under the Individuals With 15 Disabilities Education Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Law of 1964, 16 section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with 17 Disabilities Act of 1990. 18 § 18. Severability and construction. The provisions of this article 19 shall be severable, and if any court of competent jurisdiction declares 20 any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this article to be invalid, 21 or its applicability to any government agency, person or circumstance is 22 declared invalid, the remainder of this article and its relevant appli- 23 cability shall not be affected. The provisions of this article shall be 24 liberally construed to give effect to the purposes thereof. 25 § 3. Section 801-a of the education law, as added by chapter 181 of 26 the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows: 27 § 801-a. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education. 28 The regents shall ensure that the course of instruction in grades 29 kindergarten through twelve includes a component on civility, citizen- 30 ship and character education. Such component shall instruct students on 31 the principles of honesty, tolerance, personal responsibility, respect 32 for others, observance of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other 33 traits which will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and 34 contributions to, the community. The regents shall determine how to 35 incorporate such component in existing curricula and the commissioner 36 shall promulgate any regulations needed to carry out such determination 37 of the regents. For the purposes of this section, "tolerance," "respect 38 for others" and "dignity" shall include awareness and sensitivity to 39 discrimination or harassment and civility in the relations of people of 40 different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, 41 religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, 42 genders, and sexes. 43 § 4. Paragraphs l and m of subdivision 2 of section 2801 of the educa- 44 tion law, as added by chapter 181 of the laws of 2000, are amended and a 45 new paragraph n is added to read as follows: 46 l. a minimum suspension period, for students who repeatedly are 47 substantially disruptive of the educational process or substantially 48 interfere with the teacher's authority over the classroom, provided that 49 the suspending authority may reduce such period on a case by case basis 50 to be consistent with any other state and federal law. For purposes of 51 this section, the definition of "repeatedly are substantially disrup- 52 tive" shall be determined in accordance with the regulations of the 53 commissioner; [and] 54 m. a minimum suspension period for acts that would qualify the pupil 55 to be defined as a violent pupil pursuant to paragraph a of subdivision 56 two-a of section thirty-two hundred fourteen of this chapter, providedA. 3661--C 5 1 that the suspending authority may reduce such period on a case by case 2 basis to be consistent with any other state and federal law[.]; and 3 n. provisions to comply with article two of this chapter. 4 § 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012, except that any rules or 5 regulations necessary for the timely implementation of this act on its 6 effective date shall be promulgated on or before such date.