Bill Text: NY A02858 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes the "Purple Star School Program" to assist military-connected students and to recognize the value of military service and civic responsibility.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 17-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to education [A02858 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A02858-Amended.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                         2858--A

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    January 27, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by M. of A. SLATER, MAHER, GRAY, E. BROWN, BENDETT, DeSTEFA-
          NO, TAGUE, DURSO,  MORINELLO,  BRABENEC,  ANGELINO,  LEMONDES,  FLOOD,
          J. M. GIGLIO,  CHANG  -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BYRNES -- read
          once  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Education  --   committee
          discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
          to said committee

        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  education  law, in relation to establishing the
          "Purple Star School Program" to emphasize the importance of  assisting
          military-connected  students  and  to  recognize the value of military
          service and civic responsibility

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section  1.  This  act  shall be known and may be cited as the "Purple
     2  Star School Program Act".
     3    § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 66-A to read
     4  as follows:
     5                                ARTICLE 66-A
     6                         PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM
     7  Section 3330. Purple star school program.
     8    § 3330. Purple star school program. 1. The commissioner, in  consulta-
     9  tion  with  the  state  council  created  pursuant to subdivision one of
    10  section thirty-three hundred eight of this title,  shall  establish  the
    11  "Purple  Star  School Program" to recognize schools and school districts
    12  which demonstrate a commitment to assisting military-connected  students
    13  and their families.
    14    2.  As  used  in  this  section,  "military-connected student" means a
    15  school-aged child enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade in  the
    16  household  of  an active duty military member as that term is defined in
    17  subdivision one of section thirty-three hundred two  of  this  title,  a
    18  school-aged  child enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade in the
    19  household of a member of the military reserves, or national guard, or  a

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD04149-02-3
        A. 2858--A                          2

     1  school-aged  child  in  the household of a recently discharged member of
     2  the military who is enrolling  in  kindergarten  through  twelfth  grade
     3  within the state for the first time.
     4    3.  The commissioner, or his or her designee, shall designate a school
     5  as a "Purple Star  School"  upon  application  of  a  school  or  school
     6  district  which  (a) has designated a staff member as a military liaison
     7  whose  duties  include  (i)  identifying   military-connected   students
     8  enrolled in the district and serving as the point of contact between the
     9  school  and  such students; (ii) determining appropriate campus services
    10  available to military-connected students; and (iii) assisting in coordi-
    11  nating campus programs relevant to military-connected students;
    12    (b) maintains on its website an easily accessible page  that  includes
    13  resources  for military-connected students and their families, including
    14  information regarding: (i) relocation to,  enrollment  at,  registration
    15  at,  and  transferring  records  to  the campus; (ii) academic planning,
    16  course sequences, and advanced classes available at  the  campus;  (iii)
    17  counseling  and  other support services available for military-connected
    18  students enrolled at the campus; and (iv) the  military  liaison  desig-
    19  nated  under paragraph (a) of this subdivision, and the liaison's duties
    20  under such paragraph;
    21    (c) maintains a transition program led by students, where appropriate,
    22  that assists  military-connected  students  in  transitioning  into  the
    23  campus;
    24    (d)  offers  professional  development  for  staff  members  on issues
    25  related to military-connected students; and
    26    (e) the board of education or other person or entity authorized to act
    27  on behalf of the school or school  district  has  either  (i)  issued  a
    28  resolution,  proclamation,  or  other  official statement of support for
    29  military-connected students and their families; or (ii) issued a  resol-
    30  ution,  proclamation,  or other official statement recognizing the month
    31  of April as the "Month of the Military Child" and/or the month of Novem-
    32  ber as "Military Family Month" and has hosted events on campus celebrat-
    33  ing either or both; or (iii) entered into a  partnership  with  a  local
    34  military  installation that provides opportunities for active duty mili-
    35  tary members to volunteer at the campus, speak at an  assembly,  host  a
    36  field  trip,  or participate in such other educational activities as the
    37  commissioner or his or her designee deem appropriate.
    38    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.