Bill Text: NY A06315 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to authorizing Bible literacy courses in public schools; directs the commissioner to promulgate regulations establishing an elective course of studies in Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible to teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-14 - held for consideration in education [A06315 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-A06315-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          6315
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                      March 5, 2019
                                       ___________
        Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Education
        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to Bible literacy courses
          in public schools
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 817 to
     2  read as follows:
     3    § 817. Course of instruction on Bible literacy.   1. The  commissioner
     4  shall promulgate regulations to establish elective social studies cours-
     5  es  of  study  on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the
     6  New Testament of the Bible or the Hebrew Scriptures and the  New  Testa-
     7  ment of the Bible.
     8    2. The purpose of a course of study under this section is to:
     9    (a)  teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry,
    10  and narratives that  are  prerequisites  to  understanding  contemporary
    11  society  and  culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory,
    12  and public policy; and
    13    (b) familiarize students with, as applicable:
    14    (i) the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament;
    15    (ii) the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament;
    16    (iii) the literary style and structure of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
    17  Testament; and
    18    (iv) the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament  on  law,
    19  history,  government,  literature,  art, music, customs, morals, values,
    20  and culture.
    21    3. A student shall not be required to use a  specific  translation  as
    22  the  sole  text of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament and may use as
    23  the basic textbook a different translation of the Hebrew  Scriptures  or
    24  New Testament from that chosen by the school district.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10098-01-9
        A. 6315                             2
     1    4.  The commissioner shall include the course standards in the program
     2  of studies for public schools, including the teacher qualifications  and
     3  required professional development.
     4    5. A course offered under this section shall follow applicable law and
     5  all federal and state guidelines in maintaining religious neutrality and
     6  accommodating  the diverse religious views, traditions, and perspectives
     7  of students in the  school.  A  course  under  this  section  shall  not
     8  endorse,  favor,  or  promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any
     9  particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective.  The
    10  commissioner,  in  complying  with  this  section, shall not violate any
    11  provision of the United States Constitution or federal law, the New York
    12  Constitution or any state law, or any administrative regulations of  the
    13  United States Department of Education or the department.
    14    6.  Any  school  district  may authorize the display of historic arti-
    15  facts, monuments, symbols, and texts, including but not limited to reli-
    16  gious materials, in conjunction with a course of study that includes  an
    17  elective  course in history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion,
    18  literature, or other subject area that uses such  artifacts,  monuments,
    19  symbols, and texts as instructional material if the display is appropri-
    20  ate to the overall educational purpose of the course.
    21    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.