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

                                   73

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 7, 2015
                               ___________

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

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring  the  public
  school curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade twelve to
  include a minimum of two hours per week instruction in civics lessons

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

  Section 1. Section 801-a of the education law, as amended  by  chapter
102 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
  S 801-a. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education.
1.  The  regents  shall  ensure that the course of instruction in grades
kindergarten through twelve includes a component on  civility,  citizen-
ship  and character education. Such component shall instruct students on
the  principles  of  honesty,  tolerance,  RACIAL  AND  GLOBAL  HARMONY,
personal  responsibility, MORALS AND ETHICS, respect for others, with an
emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment,  bullying,  discrimination,
observance  of  laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which
will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and contributions  to,
the community. THE INSTRUCTION SHALL EMPHASIZE THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION
OF SUCH LESSONS AND THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE STUDENT'S
LIFE AND ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS OF IMPLEMENTING THE LESSONS.
  2.  THE  BOARDS  OF  EDUCATION  AND  TRUSTEES OF THE CITIES AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS OF THE STATE SHALL REQUIRE INSTRUCTION TO  BE  GIVEN  IN  SUCH
MATTERS  FOR  A  MINIMUM  PERIOD  OF TWO HOURS PER WEEK, BY THE TEACHERS
EMPLOYED IN THE  SCHOOLS  THEREIN,  COMMENCING  WITH  THE  TWO  THOUSAND
FIFTEEN--TWO  THOUSAND  SIXTEEN  SCHOOL YEAR. ALL PUPILS OVER THE AGE OF
FIVE YEARS WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL RECEIVE SUCH INSTRUCTION.
  3. Such component shall include instruction of safe,  responsible  use
of  the internet and electronic communications. The regents shall deter-
mine how to incorporate such component in  existing  curricula  and  the

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

                                                           LBD00637-01-5

A. 73                               2

commissioner  shall  promulgate any regulations needed to carry out such
determination of the regents. For the purposes of this section,  "toler-
ance,"  "respect  for  others" and "dignity" shall include awareness and
sensitivity  to harassment, bullying, discrimination and civility in the
relations of people  of  different  races,  weights,  national  origins,
ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abili-
ties, sexual orientations, genders, and sexes.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.