S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4634
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 21, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. MCGOWAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee 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.
                                                            LBD06556-01-3
              

 A. 4634                             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.