Bill Text: NY A02511 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: 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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-05 - referred to education [A02511 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-A02511-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          2511

                               2021-2022 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    January 19, 2021
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by M. of A. STERN -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Education

        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 59 to read as follows:
     3    59.  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
    23  age-appropriate model curriculum resources,  including  exemplar  lesson

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD01817-01-1
        A. 2511                             2

     1  plans,  and  best practice instructional resources for students, parents
     2  and school personnel designed  to  prevent  anti-Semitism,  Islamophobia
     3  bias  and  discrimination based on religion, race, sexual orientation or
     4  gender  identity or expression. Such model curriculum, resources, lesson
     5  plans and instructional resources shall include but not  be  limited  to
     6  guidelines  and  methods  of prevention, indicators and warning signs of
     7  anti-Semitism, Islamophobia bias and discrimination based  on  religion,
     8  race,  sexual  orientation  or gender identity or expression, guidelines
     9  and methods to prevent anti-Semitism, Islamophobia  bias  and  discrimi-
    10  nation based on religion, race, sexual orientation or gender identity or
    11  expression  and  how to report complaints of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia
    12  bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual  orientation  or
    13  gender  identity  or  expression.    Such model curriculum shall be made
    14  available to school boards, school superintendents,  their  equivalents,
    15  and  teachers for voluntary implementation in social studies classes and
    16  in social studies coursework;
    17    b. instructional tools and materials for students, parents and  school
    18  personnel,  which  shall  include  updated  information on how to report
    19  incidents of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia bias and  discrimination  based
    20  on  religion, race, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression,
    21  with a review of such information to occur  periodically,  at  intervals
    22  deemed appropriate by such commissioner; and
    23    c.  public availability of all materials related to the anti-Semitism,
    24  Islamophobia bias and discrimination prevention and education program on
    25  such department's website in Spanish, Creole, Mandarin, Korean,  Bengali
    26  and  any  other  language  predominantly spoken by the population of the
    27  state.
    28    § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
    29  the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
    30  addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
    31  for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
    32  to be made and completed on or before such effective date.