BILL NUMBER: S5669A

SPONSOR: KAPLAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to permit the Great Neck union free school district to move the
date of their annual meeting and election for the 2021 year so that it
does not conflict with religious observances; and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation allows the Great Neck Union Free School District to
move their annual meeting and election from the third Tuesday of May, to
the second Tuesday of May, this is being done so the meeting and
election do not conflict with religious observations for the holiday of
Shavuot

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This legislation allows the Great Neck Union Free School District to
              

move their annual meeting and election from the third Tuesday of May as
required by Section 2002 and 2022 of the Education Law, to the second
Tuesday of May to not conflict with religious observations for the holi-
day of Shavuot. Such meeting shall be held in the same manner and
location as specified pursuant to section 2002 and 2022 of the Education
Law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 1997, a law was enacted to give school districts the ability to
request from the Commissioner of Education the ability to move their
annual meeting and election from the third Tuesday of May, to the second
Tuesday of May if the original date conflicted with religious observanc-
es.

This year, school districts throughout New York with a significant
Jewish population made requests under this provision to move their annu-
al meeting and election, so as to not conflict with the observances of
Shavuot. Unfortunately, despite the existence of this 24 year-old law,
the Great Neck Union Free School District did not request a date change
by March 1 as required by law.

Shavuot is a holiday of critical importance to Jews, as it commemorates
the giving of the Torah by G-d on Mount Sinai. Shavuot is observed by
Jews in multiple customs, which importantly includes abstaining from
certain activities and attending religious services, which impact the
ability for an individual to vote. This legislation simply creates a
one-time exception to address the critical oversight of the Great Neck
Union Free School District, and allow the date of meeting and election
to be moved. The spirit and intent of this bill are commensurate with
what is already included in Section 2002 of the Education Law, and its
urgent enactment is necessary to prevent the disenfranchisement of
observant Jews in the Great Neck community in the upcoming school board
elections and budget vote.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed on July 1, 2021.