S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    596
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the  commis-
   sioner  of  education  to make recommendations to the board of regents
   relating to the adoption of instruction in climate science  in  senior
   high schools
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 59 to read as follows:
   59. A. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  BOARD  OF
 REGENTS  RELATING  TO  THE ADOPTION OF INSTRUCTION IN CLIMATE SCIENCE IN
 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.
   B. SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (I) INSTRUCTION ON THE EFFECT AND IMPACT OF GREENHOUSE GASSES  ON  OUR
 CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT AND PLANET;
   (II) THE USE OF THE MOST RECENT SOURCE MATERIALS, TEXT BOOKS AND METH-
 ODOLOGIES FOR TEACHING CLIMATE SCIENCE;
   (III)  INSTRUCTION  ON THE LIMITATIONS ON GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND
 TARGETS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SET FORTH IN CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIX OF THE
 LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN; AND
   (IV) ANY OTHER INSTRUCTION OR METHODS OF INSTRUCTION RELATING  TO  THE
 STUDY OF CLIMATE SCIENCE THE COMMISSIONER DEEMS NECESSARY.
   C.  PRIOR  TO  MAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE
 COMMISSIONER SHALL:
   (I) SEEK  THE  RECOMMENDATIONS  OF  TEACHERS,  SCHOOL  ADMINISTRATORS,
 TEACHER  EDUCATORS AND OTHERS WITH EDUCATIONAL EXPERTISE IN THE PROPOSED
 CURRICULUM;
   (II) SEEK COMMENT FROM PARENTS, STUDENTS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD04700-01-1

 S. 596                              2
 
   (III) CONSIDER THE AMOUNT OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME SUCH  CURRICULUM  WILL
 REQUIRE  AND WHETHER SUCH TIME WOULD DETRACT FROM OTHER MANDATED COURSES
 OF STUDY;
   (IV)  CONSIDER  THE  FISCAL  IMPACT,  IF  ANY, ON THE STATE AND SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS; AND
   (V) CONSIDER ANY ADDITIONAL FACTORS THE COMMISSIONER DEEMS RELEVANT.
   D. NO LATER THAN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE
 BOARD  OF  REGENTS  TO EITHER ADOPT AND PROMULGATE APPROPRIATE RULES AND
 REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING SUCH CURRICULUM OR REJECT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
 SUCH CURRICULUM. UPON RECEIVING A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE  COMMISSIONER,
 PURSUANT  TO THIS SUBDIVISION, THE BOARD OF REGENTS SHALL VOTE TO EITHER
 ACCEPT OR REJECT THE COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION NO LATER  THAN  SIXTY
 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING SUCH RECOMMENDATION.
   E.  IF  THE  BOARD  OF  REGENTS ADOPTS SUCH CURRICULUM, THE CURRICULUM
 REQUIREMENT SHALL TAKE EFFECT NO LATER THAN THE NEXT SCHOOL  YEAR  AFTER
 SUCH CURRICULUM HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
   F.  IF  THE BOARD OF REGENTS REJECTS SUCH CURRICULUM, THE COMMISSIONER
 SHALL PROVIDE A REPORT AS TO THE  DETERMINATION  OF  THE  BOARD  TO  THE
 GOVERNOR,  THE  TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF  THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY AND THE CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ON  EDUCA-
 TION PROVIDING THE REASONS FOR SUCH REJECTION NOT LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS
 AFTER THE BOARD OF REGENTS REJECTS SUCH CURRICULUM.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.