BILL NUMBER: S2096

SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
requiring certain public schools in any city with a population over one
million to offer Halal food options during lunch

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

According to reporting by the New York Times, about 95 percent of Muslim
children in the City of New York attend public schools. Due to the over-
whelming majority of Muslim families choosing New York City public
schools to educate their children, this bill will provide accommodation
to those students in respect of their dietary restrictions known as
Halal. The halal diet consists of specific slaughtering and preparation
processes that must be followed precisely in order to remain permissible
for practicing Muslims to consume. This bill will provide Halal lunch
options to the large number of Muslim students attending public school
in the City of New York.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
              

Section one of the bill amends the Education Law by adding a new section
915-a. This new section requires each of the New York City public
schools to provide Halal options at lunch.

Section two of the bill provides that this act shall take effect on the
one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.  Effective
immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regu-
lations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date is authorized to be made on or before such date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The City of New York is the only city in The State of New York that has
a population of over one million people. According to the Department of
Education, the City provides public education to about 1,135,334
students across its five boroughs. Within the City there are an esti-
mated 600,000 to 1,000,000 Muslim residents. According to a study
published by Columbia University, approximately ten percent of the New
York City public school children are Muslim. So, more than 100,000
public school students in the City of New York are subject to a finan-
cial burden that other students are not liable for. Our Muslim students
and their nutritional requirements should not be ignored any longer.

In order to truly fulfill the Mayor's Free Lunch for All program, legis-
lative action must be taken to equitably distribute meal opportunities
to students of all faiths, especially those that are commonly observed
in The City of New York's public schools.

This bill will finally relieve the many families that rely on the
State's largest public school system to provide a reasonable educational
experience in the critical years of their children's' youth and educa-
tion.

This bill advocates for a fair lunch program provided to the students
enrolled in the public school system of the City of New York. This bill
also recognizes the changes required to public school policy as a result
of an increasingly diverse New York City public school system.
 
EXISTING LAW:

Currently, there is no requirement to provide Halal meals in New York
City schools.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2016: S.353-REFERRED TO EDUCATION/A4328-referred to education
2015: S.353- REFERRED TO EDUCATION/ A4328- referred to education
2014: S.6463 - Referred to Education/A.8255-Referred to Education
2013: A.8255-Referred to Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementa-
tion of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or
before such date.