Establishes an educational program related to the prevention of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4502
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 9, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sens. LIU, GOUNARDES, MYRIE -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Educa-
tion
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing an educa-
tional program related to the prevention of anti-Semitism, Islamopho-
bia bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual orien-
tation or gender identity or expression
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 60 to read as follows:
3 60. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, and
4 subject to an appropriation, the department shall contract with an
5 outside entity who has expertise in the prevention of anti-Semitism,
6 Islamophobia bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual
7 orientation or gender identity or expression to establish an anti-Semi-
8 tism, Islamophobia bias and discrimination prevention and education
9 program overseen by such department. The commissioner shall work with
10 such outside entity, to establish and develop an educational program
11 within such department related to the prevention of anti-Semitism,
12 Islamophobia bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual
13 orientation or gender identity or expression in grades kindergarten
14 through twelve. Such program shall be further defined by such commis-
15 sioner in regulation and shall be designed to educate students, parents
16 and school personnel about the prevention of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia
17 bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual orientation or
18 gender identity or expression. Such commissioner, in collaboration with
19 any other stakeholder groups deemed appropriate by such commissioner,
20 shall develop:
21 a. the anti-Semitism, Islamophobia bias and discrimination prevention
22 and education program prepared by an outside expert organization into
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02329-01-3
S. 4502 2
1 age-appropriate model curriculum resources, including exemplar lesson
2 plans, and best practice instructional resources for students, parents
3 and school personnel designed to prevent anti-Semitism, Islamophobia
4 bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual orientation or
5 gender identity or expression. Such model curriculum, resources, lesson
6 plans and instructional resources shall include but not be limited to
7 guidelines and methods of prevention, indicators and warning signs of
8 anti-Semitism, Islamophobia bias and discrimination based on religion,
9 race, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, guidelines
10 and methods to prevent anti-Semitism, Islamophobia bias and discrimi-
11 nation based on religion, race, sexual orientation or gender identity or
12 expression and how to report complaints of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia
13 bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual orientation or
14 gender identity or expression. Such model curriculum shall be made
15 available to school boards, school superintendents, their equivalents,
16 and teachers for voluntary implementation in social studies classes and
17 in social studies coursework;
18 b. instructional tools and materials for students, parents and school
19 personnel, which shall include updated information on how to report
20 incidents of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia bias and discrimination based
21 on religion, race, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression,
22 with a review of such information to occur periodically, at intervals
23 deemed appropriate by such commissioner; and
24 c. public availability of all materials related to the anti-Semitism,
25 Islamophobia bias and discrimination prevention and education program on
26 such department's website in Spanish, Creole, Mandarin, Korean, Bengali
27 and any other language predominantly spoken by the population of the
28 state.
29 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
30 the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
31 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
32 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
33 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
