S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  8642

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                           September 21, 2011
                               ___________

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

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to including the  attacks
  on  September  11,  2001  in  courses of instruction in patriotism and
  citizenship

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 and subdivision 3 of
section  801 of the education law, as amended by chapter 574 of the laws
of 1997, are amended to read as follows:
  In order to promote a spirit of patriotic and civic service and  obli-
gation and to foster in the children of the state moral and intellectual
qualities  which  are  essential in preparing to meet the obligations of
citizenship in peace or in war, the regents of  The  University  of  the
State  of New York shall prescribe courses of instruction in patriotism,
citizenship, and human rights issues, with particular attention  to  the
study  of  the  inhumanity  of  genocide, slavery (including the freedom
trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, [and] the  mass  starva-
tion  in  Ireland  from  1845  to 1850, AND THE ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11,
2001, to be maintained and followed in all the schools of the state. The
boards of education and  trustees  of  the  several  cities  and  school
districts  of  the  state  shall require instruction to be given in such
courses, by the teachers employed in the  schools  therein.  All  pupils
attending  such  schools, over the age of eight years, shall attend upon
such instruction.
  3. The regents shall determine the subjects to  be  included  in  such
courses  of  instruction  in  patriotism,  citizenship, and human rights
issues, with particular attention to the  study  of  the  inhumanity  of
genocide,  slavery  (including  the  freedom trail and underground rail-
road), the Holocaust, [and] the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845  to
1850,  AND  THE ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, and in the history, mean-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD13378-01-1
              

A. 8642                             2

ing, significance and effect of the provisions of  the  constitution  of
the  United States, the amendments thereto, the declaration of independ-
ence, the constitution of the state of New York and the amendments ther-
eto,  and  the  period  of  instruction  in  each  of the grades in such
subjects. They shall adopt rules  providing  for  attendance  upon  such
instruction and for such other matters as are required for carrying into
effect  the objects and purposes of this section. The commissioner shall
be responsible for the enforcement of such section and shall cause to be
inspected and supervise the instruction to be given  in  such  subjects.
The  commissioner  may, in his discretion, cause all or a portion of the
public school money to be apportioned to a district or city to be  with-
held  for  failure of the school authorities of such district or city to
provide instruction in such courses and to compel attendance  upon  such
instruction,  as  herein  prescribed,  and for a non-compliance with the
rules of the regents adopted as herein provided.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.