STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1112
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. AMEDORE -- 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 silent meditation in
public schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 3029-a of the education law, as added by chapter
2 1204 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 3029-a. Silent meditation in public schools. 1. In each public
4 school classroom, the teacher [in charge may, or if so authorized or
5 directed by the board of education by which he is employed,] shall, at
6 the opening of school upon every school day, [conduct] observe a [brief]
7 one minute period of silent meditation with the participation of all the
8 pupils therein assembled.
9 2. The silent meditation authorized by [subsection] subdivision one of
10 this [act] section is not intended to be, and shall not be conducted as,
11 a religious service or exercise, but may be considered as an opportunity
12 for silent meditation on a religious theme by those who are so disposed,
13 or a moment of silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the
14 day. As used in subdivision one of this section the term "partic-
15 ipation" shall be construed to permit seated participation and not to
16 require any pupil to stand.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01222-01-9