NY State Senate Bill 2019-S2838B

Senate Bill S2838B

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Requires certain public schools in any city with a population over one million to offer food options

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee New York City Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2020	referred to new york city education
May 30, 2019	reported and committed to education
May 08, 2019	print number 2838b
May 08, 2019	amend and recommit to new york city education
Apr 30, 2019	print number 2838a
Apr 30, 2019	amend (t) and recommit to new york city education
Jan 29, 2019	referred to new york city education

Votes

- May 30, 2019 - New York City Education Committee Vote
  S2838B
  
  6
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - New York City Education Committee Vote: May 30, 2019
      
      aye (6)
      
      Bailey
      
      Gounardes
      
      Jackson
      
      Little
      
      Liu
      
      Montgomery
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Lanza

Bill Amendments

Original

B (Active)

co-Sponsors

2019-S2838 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6335
Current Committee:: Senate New York City Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §915-a, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S5900
2015-2016: S1032
2017-2018: S4414
2021-2022: S2860, A4842
2023-2024: S19, A894

2019-S2838 - Summary

Requires public schools in any city with a population over one million that have at least 25% of students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary restrictions to offer food options which meet such dietary restrictions.

2019-S2838 - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S2838

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
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 Muslim students attending public schools that host a
large Muslim student population in the City of New York.

Additionally, there are other large groups of students that observe a
common religion that requires a dietary restriction within the public
school system of the City of New York. For example, there are public
schools that host a large population of students that identify with
Judaism and are required to keep Kosher, the diet of those who partic-
ipate in Judaism. The Kosher diet, much like the Halal diet, consists of
specific slaughtering and preparation processes that must be followed
precisely in order to remain permissible for practicing members of the
Jewish faith to consume.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends the Education Law by adding a new section
915-a. This new section requires any New York City public school that
has twenty-five percent or more of students practicing a religious faith
with specific dietary restrictions to offer food options that meet such
dietary restrictions.

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.

Within the City of New York, there are also about 1.1 million Jewish
residents. According to the UJA-Federation of New York, about one third
of Jewish students attend public school in New York City, which trans-
lates to more than 100,000 Jewish public school students in the five
boroughs.

So, more than 200,000 public school students in the City of New York are
subject to a financial burden that other students are not liable for.

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 food options in New York
City schools.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2013: S5900A - Referred to Rules
2014: S5900A - Referred to Education
2015/2016: S1032- Referred to Education
2017/2018: S4414- 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.

2019-S2838 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2838
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on New York City Education
 
 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
   food options during lunch

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 915-a
 to read as follows:
   § 915-A. FOOD OPTIONS. IN ANY CITY HAVING OVER  ONE  MILLION  INHABIT-
 ANTS, ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT HAS TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OR MORE OF STUDENTS
 PRACTICING  A  RELIGIOUS  FAITH WITH SPECIFIC DIETARY RESTRICTIONS SHALL
 OFFER FOOD OPTIONS WHICH MEET SUCH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment  and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the imple-
 mentation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made  on
 or before such date.
 
 
 
 

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07698-01-9

co-Sponsors

2019-S2838A - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6335
Current Committee:: Senate New York City Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §915-a, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S5900
2015-2016: S1032
2017-2018: S4414
2021-2022: S2860, A4842
2023-2024: S19, A894

2019-S2838A - Summary

2019-S2838A - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S2838A

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 food options which meet dietary restrictions of certain
students

 
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 Muslim students attending public schools that host a
large Muslim student population in the City of New York.

Additionally, there are other large groups of students that observe a

common religion that requires a dietary restriction within the public
school system of the City of New York. For example, there are public
schools that host a large population of students that identify with
Judaism and are required to keep Kosher, the diet of those who partic-
ipate in Judaism. The Kosher diet, much like the Halal diet, consists of
specific slaughtering and preparation processes that must be followed
precisely in order to remain permissible for practicing members of the
Jewish faith to consume.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends the Education Law by adding a new section
915-a. This new section requires any New York City public school that
has twenty-five percent or more of students practicing a religious faith
with specific dietary restrictions to offer food options that meet such
dietary restrictions at each meal offered.

Paragraph two of section 915-a provides that any school with fewer than
twenty-five percent of students practicing a religious faith with
specific dietary restrictions shall offer such food upon the students'
request, but shall not otherwise be automatically required.

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.
Within the City of New York, there are also about 1.1 million Jewish
residents. According to the UJA-Federation of New York, about one third
of Jewish students attend public school in New York City, which trans-
lates to more than 100,000 Jewish public school students in the five
boroughs.

So, more than 200,000 public school students in the City of New York are
subject to a financial burden that other students are not liable for.

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 food options in New York
City schools.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2013: S5900A - Referred to Rules
2014: S5900A - Referred to Education
2015/2016: S1032- Referred to Education
2017/2018: S4414- Referred to Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
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.

2019-S2838A - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2838--A
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. GOUNARDES, COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and  when  printed  to  be committed to the Committee on New York City
   Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted  as
   amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 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
   food options which meet dietary restrictions of certain students
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 915-a
 to read as follows:
   § 915-A. FOOD OPTIONS. 1. IN ANY CITY HAVING OVER ONE MILLION INHABIT-
 ANTS, ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT HAS TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OR MORE OF STUDENTS
 PRACTICING A RELIGIOUS FAITH WITH SPECIFIC  DIETARY  RESTRICTIONS  SHALL
 OFFER  FOOD  OPTIONS  WHICH  MEET SUCH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS AT EACH MEAL
 OFFERED.
   2. ANY SCHOOL WITH FEWER THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF STUDENTS PRACTIC-
 ING A RELIGIOUS FAITH WITH SPECIFIC  DIETARY  RESTRICTIONS  SHALL  OFFER
 FOOD  OPTIONS  AT EACH MEAL THAT MEET SUCH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS UPON ANY
 STUDENT'S REQUEST AND IN SUFFICIENT AMOUNTS TO MEET  THE  NEEDS  OF  ANY
 SUCH  STUDENTS,  BUT  SHALL NOT OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED TO OFFER SUCH FOOD
 OPTIONS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment  and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the imple-
 mentation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on
 or before such date.
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07698-02-9

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2019-S2838B (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6335
Current Committee:: Senate New York City Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §915-a, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S5900
2015-2016: S1032
2017-2018: S4414
2021-2022: S2860, A4842
2023-2024: S19, A894

2019-S2838B (ACTIVE) - Summary

2019-S2838B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S2838B

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 food options which meet dietary restrictions of certain
students

 
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 Muslim students attending public schools that host a
large Muslim student population in the City of New York.

Additionally, there are other large groups of students that observe a

common religion that requires a dietary restriction within the public
school system of the City of New York. For example, there are public
schools that host a large population of students that identify with
Judaism and are required to keep Kosher, the diet of those who partic-
ipate in Judaism. The Kosher diet, much like the Halal diet, consists of
specific slaughtering and preparation processes that must be followed
precisely in order to remain permissible for practicing members of the
Jewish faith to consume.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends the Education Law by adding a new section
915-a. This new section requires any New York City public school that
has twenty-five percent or more of students practicing a religious faith
with specific dietary restrictions to offer food options that meet such
dietary restrictions at each meal offered.  Paragraph two of section
915-a provides that any school with fewer than twenty-five percent of
students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary restrictions
shall offer such food upon the students' request, but shall not other-
wise be automatically required.

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.

Within the City of New York, there are also about 1.1 million Jewish
residents. According to the UJA-Federation of New York, about one third
of Jewish students attend public school in New York City, which trans-
lates to more than 100,000 Jewish public school students in the five
boroughs.

So, more than 200,000 public school students in the City of New York are
subject to a financial burden that other students are not liable for.

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 food options in New York
City schools.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2013: S5900A - Referred to Rules
2014: S5900A - Referred to Education
2015/2016: S1032 - Referred to Education
2017/2018: S4414 - Referred to Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
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.

2019-S2838B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2838--B
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. GOUNARDES, COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and  when  printed  to  be committed to the Committee on New York City
   Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted  as
   amended  and  recommitted  to  said committee -- committee discharged,
   bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended  and  recommitted  to  said
   committee
 
 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
   food options which meet dietary restrictions of certain students
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 915-a
 to read as follows:
   § 915-A. FOOD OPTIONS. 1. IN ANY CITY HAVING OVER ONE MILLION INHABIT-
 ANTS, ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT HAS TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OR MORE OF STUDENTS
 PRACTICING A RELIGIOUS FAITH WITH SPECIFIC  DIETARY  RESTRICTIONS  SHALL
 OFFER  FOOD  OPTIONS  WHICH  MEET SUCH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS AT EACH MEAL
 OFFERED.
   2. ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION  OF  ONE  MILLION  OR
 MORE  WITH FEWER THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF STUDENTS PRACTICING A RELI-
 GIOUS FAITH WITH SPECIFIC DIETARY RESTRICTIONS SHALL OFFER FOOD  OPTIONS
 AT  EACH  MEAL  THAT  MEET  SUCH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS UPON ANY STUDENT'S
 REQUEST AND IN  SUFFICIENT  AMOUNTS  TO  MEET  THE  NEEDS  OF  ANY  SUCH
 STUDENTS,  BUT  SHALL  NOT  OTHERWISE  BE  REQUIRED  TO  OFFER SUCH FOOD
 OPTIONS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment  and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the imple-
 mentation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on
 or before such date.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07698-04-9

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Senate Bill S2838B

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee New York City Education Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2019-S2838 - Details

2019-S2838 - Summary

2019-S2838 - Sponsor Memo

2019-S2838 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2019-S2838A - Details

2019-S2838A - Summary

2019-S2838A - Sponsor Memo

2019-S2838A - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2019-S2838B (ACTIVE) - Details

2019-S2838B (ACTIVE) - Summary

2019-S2838B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2019-S2838B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments