S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8317
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             October 20, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. LAWLER -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on 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 section 27 of part A  of
 chapter 56 of the laws of 2020, 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,  civic education and values, our shared history of diversi-
 ty, the role of religious tolerance in this country,  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,  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, AND MAY INCLUDE EDUCA-
 TIONAL RESOURCES PROVIDED BY NATIONAL AND ACCREDITED  INSTITUTIONS  THAT
 ARE  RECOMMENDED  FOR  PRIORITY  USE,  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, civic  education  and
 values, our shared history of diversity, the role of history of diversi-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13188-02-1
              

 A. 8317                             2
 
 ty,  the  role  of religious tolerance in this country, 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-
 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 OR HER discretion, cause all or a portion
 of the public school money to be apportioned to a district or city to be
 withheld 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.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.