S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6438
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 17, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. BYRNE -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   "Purple  Star School Program" to emphasize the importance of assisting
   military-connected students and to recognize  the  value  of  military
   service and civic responsibility

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and maybe cited as the "Purple Star
 School Program Act".
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 66-A to read
 as follows:
                               ARTICLE 66-A
                        PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM
 SECTION 3330. PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.
   § 3330. PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM. 1. THE COMMISSIONER, IN  CONSULTA-
 TION  WITH  THE  STATE  COUNCIL  CREATED  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF
 SECTION THIRTY-THREE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS TITLE,  SHALL  ESTABLISH  THE
 "PURPLE  STAR  SCHOOL PROGRAM" TO RECOGNIZE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS
 WHICH DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO ASSISTING MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS
 AND THEIR FAMILIES.
   2.  AS  USED  IN  THIS  SECTION,  "MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT" MEANS A
 SCHOOL-AGED CHILD ENROLLED IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE IN  THE
 HOUSEHOLD  OF  AN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBER AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN
 SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION THIRTY-THREE HUNDRED TWO OF THIS TITLE.
   3. THE COMMISSIONER, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, SHALL DESIGNATE A  SCHOOL
 AS  A  "PURPLE  STAR  SCHOOL"  UPON  APPLICATION  OF  A SCHOOL OR SCHOOL
 DISTRICT WHICH (A) HAS DESIGNATED A STAFF MEMBER AS A  MILITARY  LIAISON
 WHOSE   DUTIES   INCLUDE  (I)  IDENTIFYING  MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS
 ENROLLED IN THE DISTRICT AND SERVING AS THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE
 SCHOOL AND SUCH STUDENTS; (II) DETERMINING APPROPRIATE  CAMPUS  SERVICES
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD08688-02-1

 A. 6438                             2
 
 AVAILABLE TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS; AND (III) ASSISTING IN COORDI-
 NATING CAMPUS PROGRAMS RELEVANT TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS;
   (B)  MAINTAINS  ON ITS WEBSITE AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE PAGE THAT INCLUDES
 RESOURCES FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES,  INCLUDING
 INFORMATION  REGARDING:  (I)  RELOCATION TO, ENROLLMENT AT, REGISTRATION
 AT, AND TRANSFERRING RECORDS TO  THE  CAMPUS;  (II)  ACADEMIC  PLANNING,
 COURSE  SEQUENCES,  AND  ADVANCED CLASSES AVAILABLE AT THE CAMPUS; (III)
 COUNSELING AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE  FOR  MILITARY-CONNECTED
 STUDENTS  ENROLLED  AT  THE CAMPUS; AND (IV) THE MILITARY LIAISON DESIG-
 NATED UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, AND THE LIAISON'S  DUTIES
 UNDER SUCH PARAGRAPH;
   (C) MAINTAINS A TRANSITION PROGRAM LED BY STUDENTS, WHERE APPROPRIATE,
 THAT  ASSISTS  MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS  IN  TRANSITIONING  INTO THE
 CAMPUS;
   (D) OFFERS  PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT  FOR  STAFF  MEMBERS  ON  ISSUES
 RELATED TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS; AND
   (E) THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY AUTHORIZED TO ACT
 ON  BEHALF  OF  THE  SCHOOL  OR  SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EITHER (I) ISSUED A
 RESOLUTION, PROCLAMATION, OR OTHER OFFICIAL  STATEMENT  OF  SUPPORT  FOR
 MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES; OR (II) ISSUED A RESOL-
 UTION, PROCLAMATION, OR OTHER OFFICIAL STATEMENT RECOGNIZING  THE  MONTH
 OF APRIL AS THE "MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD" AND/OR THE MONTH OF NOVEM-
 BER AS "MILITARY FAMILY MONTH" AND HAS HOSTED EVENTS ON CAMPUS CELEBRAT-
 ING  EITHER  OR  BOTH;  OR (III) ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL
 MILITARY INSTALLATION THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE DUTY  MILI-
 TARY  MEMBERS  TO  VOLUNTEER AT THE CAMPUS, SPEAK AT AN ASSEMBLY, HOST A
 FIELD TRIP, OR PARTICIPATE IN SUCH OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES  AS  THE
 COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE DEEM APPROPRIATE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.