S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7750
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             November 15, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 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 may be  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, A
 SCHOOL-AGED CHILD ENROLLED IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE IN  THE
 HOUSEHOLD  OF A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY RESERVES, OR NATIONAL GUARD, OR A
 SCHOOL-AGED CHILD IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF A RECENTLY  DISCHARGED  MEMBER  OF
 THE  MILITARY  WHO  IS  ENROLLING  IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE
 WITHIN THE STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04149-03-3
 S. 7750                             2
              

 
   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
 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.