Requires the commissioner of education to make recommendations to the board of regents relating to the adoption of instruction in climate science in senior high schools.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6877
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
November 27, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the commis-
sioner of education to make recommendations to the board of regents
relating to the adoption of instruction in climate science in senior
high schools
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 59 to read as follows:
3 59. a. The commissioner shall make recommendations to the board of
4 regents relating to the adoption of instruction in climate science in
5 senior high schools.
6 b. Such instruction shall include, but not be limited to:
7 (i) instruction on the effect and impact of greenhouse gasses on our
8 climate, environment and planet;
9 (ii) the use of the most recent source materials, text books and meth-
10 odologies for teaching climate science;
11 (iii) instruction on the limitations on greenhouse gas emissions and
12 targets for renewable energy set forth in chapter one hundred six of the
13 laws of two thousand nineteen; and
14 (iv) any other instruction or methods of instruction relating to the
15 study of climate science the commissioner deems necessary.
16 c. Prior to making the recommendations to the board of regents, the
17 commissioner shall:
18 (i) seek the recommendations of teachers, school administrators,
19 teacher educators and others with educational expertise in the proposed
20 curriculum;
21 (ii) seek comment from parents, students and other interested parties;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14329-02-9
S. 6877 2
1 (iii) consider the amount of instructional time such curriculum will
2 require and whether such time would detract from other mandated courses
3 of study;
4 (iv) consider the fiscal impact, if any, on the state and school
5 districts; and
6 (v) consider any additional factors the commissioner deems relevant.
7 d. No later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of
8 this subdivision, the commissioner shall provide a recommendation to the
9 board of regents to either adopt and promulgate appropriate rules and
10 regulations implementing such curriculum or reject the implementation of
11 such curriculum. Upon receiving a recommendation from the commissioner,
12 pursuant to this subdivision, the board of regents shall vote to either
13 accept or reject the commissioner's recommendation no later than sixty
14 days after receiving such recommendation.
15 e. If the board of regents adopts such curriculum, the curriculum
16 requirement shall take effect no later than the next school year after
17 such curriculum has been adopted.
18 f. If the board of regents rejects such curriculum, the commissioner
19 shall provide a report as to the determination of the board to the
20 governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the
21 assembly and the chairs of the senate and assembly committees on educa-
22 tion providing the reasons for such rejection not later than thirty days
23 after the board of regents rejects such curriculum.
24 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
