S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    30
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- 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 allocating the Amistad
   commission to work alongside the department of education and on behalf
   of students in New York state; and to repeal certain provisions of the
   arts and cultural affairs law relating to the Amistad commission
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Article  57-B  of  the  arts  and cultural affairs law is
 REPEALED.
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 25  to  read
 as follows:
                                ARTICLE 25
                          THE AMISTAD COMMISSION
 SECTION 1301. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
         1302. DEFINITIONS
         1303. COMMISSION ESTABLISHED.
         1304. COMMISSION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
         1305. CURRICULUM.
         1306. AUTHORIZATION.
   § 1301. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. THE LEGISLATURE FINDS AND DECLARES THAT:
   1.  DURING  THE PERIOD BEGINNING LATE IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY THROUGH
 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, MILLIONS  OF  PERSONS  OF  AFRICAN  ORIGIN  WERE
 ENSLAVED  AND  BROUGHT  TO  THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, INCLUDING THE UNITED
 STATES OF AMERICA; OF THE 12.5 MILLION ENSLAVED AFRICANS  BROUGHT,  10.7
 MILLION SURVIVED THE MIDDLE PASSAGE OR APPROXIMATELY 20% PERISHED DURING
 THEIR JOURNEY TO THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THE ENSLAVEMENT OF AFRICANS AND
 THEIR DESCENDANTS WAS PART OF A CONCERTED EFFORT OF PHYSICAL AND PSYCHO-
 LOGICAL  TERROR  THAT  DEPRIVED  GROUPS OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT THE
 OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE MANY OF THEIR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS, POLI-

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD00149-01-5
 S. 30                               2
 
 TICAL AND OTHER CUSTOMS; THE VESTIGES OF SLAVERY IN THIS COUNTRY CONTIN-
 UED WITH THE LEGALIZATION OF SECOND CLASS CITIZENSHIP STATUS  FOR  AFRI-
 CAN-AMERICANS  THROUGH  FROM THE END OF RECONSTRUCTION IN 1876 UNTIL THE
 CIVIL RIGHTS ERA THAT SPANNED THE 1950S THROUGH 1968, INCLUDING JIM CROW
 LAWS, SEGREGATION AND OTHER SIMILAR PRACTICES; THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY HAS
 PERVADED  THE  FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY; AND IN SPITE OF THESE EVENTS THERE
 ARE ENDLESS EXAMPLES OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE HISTORY OF AFRICANS ON  THE
 CULTURAL,  ECONOMIC,  POLITICAL  AND  SOCIAL  FOUNDATION  OF  THE UNITED
 STATES, THE AMERICAS AND THE ECONOMIES, POLITICS AND SOCIETIES OF EUROPE
 AND BEYOND. THE ENDURING LEGACY OF CHATTEL SLAVERY IN THE UNITED  STATES
 AND THE AMERICAS, INCLUDING THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCT CREATED AND CEMENTED BY
 THE  BIOLOGICAL MYTH OF RACE AND THE RESULTING INEQUITIES AND INJUSTICES
 STEMMING FROM RACISM. THAT WAS CHALLENGED BY THE PERSEVERANCE,  ACTIVISM
 AND   AFOREMENTIONED  CONTRIBUTIONS  OF  THE  ENSLAVED  AFRICANS,  THEIR
 DESCENDANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
   2. WE SHOULD KNOW OF AND REMEMBER THE HUMAN CARNAGE  AND  DEHUMANIZING
 ATROCITIES  COMMITTED  DURING  THE PERIOD OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE AND
 SLAVERY IN AMERICA AND OF THE VESTIGES OF SLAVERY IN THIS  COUNTRY;  AND
 IT  IS IN FACT VITAL TO EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS ON THESE EVENTS, THE LEGACY
 OF SLAVERY, THE SAD HISTORY OF RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY, AND ON THE  PRIN-
 CIPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY.
   3.  IT  IS  THE  POLICY  OF  THE STATE OF NEW YORK THAT BLACK HISTORY,
 INCLUDING THE HISTORY OF AFRICA, THE  TRANS-ATLANTIC  SLAVE  TRADE,  THE
 AFRICAN  DIASPORA,  CHATTEL SLAVERY, THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, SLAVERY IN
 AMERICA, THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY ON OUR SOCIETY, THE DEPTH OF THEIR IMPACT
 IN OUR SOCIETY, AND THE TRIUMPHS OF AFRICANS AND THEIR  DESCENDANTS  AND
 THEIR  SIGNIFICANT  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COUNTRY IS
 THE PROPER CONCERN OF ALL PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN  THE
 SCHOOLS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
   4. THERE IS A NEED FOR EDUCATION REFORM FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE
 IN  ORDER  TO MITIGATE THE DEVASTATING EFFECT OF RACISM IN EDUCATION AND
 THE COMPLETE MISEDUCATION OF OUR POPULATION AROUND BLACK HISTORY.
   5. IT IS THEREFORE DESIRABLE TO CREATE A STATE-LEVEL COMMISSION, WHICH
 SHALL OVERSEE THE BUDGET AND OPERATION OF THE AMISTAD COMMISSION  AS  IT
 SEEKS  TO  PROVIDE THE STUDENTS OF NEW YORK WITH A  MORE ADEQUATE INCLU-
 SION OF THE HISTORY OF AFRICA, CHATTEL SLAVERY,  THE  AFRICAN  DIASPORA,
 THE  LEGACY  OF  SLAVERY  AND  THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN
 BUILDING OUR COUNTRY.
   § 1302. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE:
   1. "COMMISSION" SHALL MEAN THE AMISTAD COMMISSION.
   2. "AFRICAN-AMERICANS" SHALL MEAN ALL PAN-AFRICAN PEOPLE IN THE AMERI-
 CAS.
   3. "BLACK HISTORY" OR "BLACK STUDIES" SHALL MEAN THE HISTORY OF  AFRI-
 CA,  THE TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE, THE AFRICAN DIASPORA, CHATTEL SLAV-
 ERY, SLAVERY IN THE AMERICAS, THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY IN OUR SOCIETY,  THE
 DEPTH  OF  THEIR  IMPACT IN OUR SOCIETY, AND THE TRIUMPHS OF AFRICANS IN
 THE AMERICAS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT  CONTRIBUTIONS.
 IT  SHALL  ELEVATE  HISTORICALLY  MARGINALIZED  VOICES. IT SHALL INCLUDE
 OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT POWER AND PRIVILEGE IN THE CONTEXT OF VARI-
 OUS COMMUNITIES AND EMPOWERS LEARNERS TO BE AGENTS  OF  POSITIVE  SOCIAL
 CHANGE.  IT  SHALL  PROVIDE  THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT PERSPECTIVES
 BEYOND ONE'S OWN SCOPE. IT SHALL  WORK  TOWARD  DISMANTLING  SYSTEMS  OF
 BIASES AND INEQUITIES AND DECENTERING DOMINANT IDEOLOGIES IN EDUCATION.
   4. "DEPARTMENT" SHALL MEAN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS SUCH TERM IS
 DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
 S. 30                               3
 
   5.  "COMMISSIONER" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED
 IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
   § 1303. COMMISSION ESTABLISHED. 1. THE AMISTAD COMMISSION, SO NAMED IN
 HONOR  OF THE GROUP OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS LED BY JOSEPH CINQUE WHO, WHILE
 BEING TRANSPORTED IN EIGHTEEN HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE ON A VESSEL NAMED  THE
 AMISTAD, GAINED THEIR FREEDOM AFTER OVERTHROWING THE CREW AND EVENTUALLY
 HAVING  THEIR  CASE SUCCESSFULLY ARGUED BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME
 COURT, IS HEREBY CREATED AND ESTABLISHED. THE COMMISSION  SHALL  CONSIST
 OF  TWENTY-ONE  MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OR SUCH
 COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE, THE TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SENATE,  THE
 SPEAKER  OF  THE ASSEMBLY, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW
 YORK OR SUCH CHANCELLOR'S  DESIGNEE,  SERVING  EX  OFFICIO,  A  DESIGNEE
 APPOINTED  BY THE GOVERNOR WHO HAS A BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION AND SIXTEEN
 PUBLIC MEMBERS.   PUBLIC MEMBERS SHALL  BE  APPOINTED  AS  FOLLOWS:  THE
 PUBLIC  MEMBERS  SHALL BE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE, CHOSEN WITH DUE REGARD
 TO BROAD GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION AND RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY,  WHO
 HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF BLACK STUDIES.
   2.  THE COMMISSIONER OR SUCH COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE SHALL RESIDE AS A
 VOTING MEMBER.  THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF
 THE ASSEMBLY SHALL SERVE AS VOTING MEMBERS FOR THE TWO-YEAR  LEGISLATIVE
 TERM. ALL PUBLIC MEMBERS SHALL SERVE AS VOTING MEMBERS.
   3. THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE A SEPARATE BUDGET FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND
 SHALL  BE  ALLOCATED  IN  BUT NOT OF THE DEPARTMENT, BUT NOTWITHSTANDING
 THIS ALLOCATION, THE COMMISSION SHALL BE INDEPENDENT OF ANY  SUPERVISION
 OR CONTROL BY THE DEPARTMENT OR ANY BOARD OR OFFICER THEREOF.
   4. EACH PUBLIC MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF FOUR
 YEARS.  PUBLIC  MEMBERS  SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT. THEY SHALL
 SERVE UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE APPOINTED AND QUALIFIED, AND  THE  TERM
 OF  THE  SUCCESSOR OF ANY INCUMBENT SHALL BE CALCULATED FROM THE EXPIRA-
 TION OF THE TERM OF THAT INCUMBENT. A VACANCY OCCURRING  OTHER  THAN  BY
 EXPIRATION  OF  TERM  SHALL BE FILLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE ORIGINAL
 APPOINTMENT BUT FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM ONLY.
   5. THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION  BUT
 SHALL  BE  ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED
 IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   6. THE COMMISSION SHALL ANNUALLY ELECT A CHAIRPERSON AND A VICE-CHAIR-
 PERSON FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS. THE COMMISSION SHALL MEET UPON  THE  CALL
 OF THE CHAIRPERSON OR OF A MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS. THE PRES-
 ENCE OF A MAJORITY OF THE AUTHORIZED VOTING MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION
 SHALL BE REQUIRED FOR THE CONDUCT OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS.
   7.  THE  COMMISSION SHALL INTERVIEW AND APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
 WHO SHALL SERVE AT ITS PLEASURE AND  SHALL  BE  A  PERSON  QUALIFIED  BY
 TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE. THE COMMIS-
 SION  SHALL  APPROVE  ALL COMMISSION PERSONNEL.   THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
 SHALL IDENTIFY THEIR STAFF AND THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE OF  SUCH  COMMIS-
 SION SHALL APPROVE SUCH HIRES THROUGH EQUITABLE HIRING PRACTICES.
   8.  THE  DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DATA TO THE
 COMMISSION AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR  THE  COMMISSION  TO  CARRY  OUT  ITS
 RESPONSIBILITIES PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
   9. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR THE BUDGET FOR AN
 AMOUNT  NOT LESS THAN ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS DIRECTLY
 TO THE GOVERNOR ANNUALLY. THE LEGISLATURE SHALL  APPROPRIATE  SUFFICIENT
 FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMISSION CARRIES OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 ARTICLE.    ONE  HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF SUCH FUNDING SHALL BE ALLO-
 CATED ANNUALLY  FOR  TRAVEL  EXPENSES,  INCLUDING  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO
 EXPENSES FOR OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS AND RETREATS.
 S. 30                               4
 
   §  1304.  COMMISSION  DUTIES  AND  RESPONSIBILITIES. 1. THE COMMISSION
 SHALL, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION  RECOMMENDA-
 TIONS:
   (A)  CREATE  A  STATE-DEVELOPED RUBRIC OR RUBRICS FOR ANY PERFORMANCE-
 BASED ASSESSMENTS ALLOWED AS AN OPTION TO SATISFY THE DIPLOMA ASSESSMENT
 REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE;
   (B) REQUIRE ALL STATE TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE INSTRUC-
 TION IN CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE-SUSTAINING EDUCATION,  DIVERSITY,  EQUITY,
 AND  INCLUSION  AND  ACCESSIBILITY  LENS IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS, INCLUDING
 HISTORY; AND
   (C) INCLUDE SUCH INFORMATION  IN  DISTRICT  COMPREHENSIVE  IMPROVEMENT
 PLANS OR OTHER ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   2.  IN  CRAFTING  A FRAMEWORK FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BLACK STUDIES,
 THE COMMISSION SHALL:
   (A) ADOPT AND/OR ADAPT A  BLACK  HISTORY  CURRICULUM  WITH  SCOPE  AND
 SEQUENCE  AND GRADE LEVEL OUTCOMES AND MARKET AND DISTRIBUTE SUCH INFOR-
 MATION AND MATERIALS TO EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS
 IN THE STATE;
   (B) CONDUCT TEACHER WORKSHOPS ANNUALLY ON BLACK HISTORY;
   (C)  MONITOR  AND ASSESS THE INCLUSION OF SUCH MATERIALS AND CURRICULA
 IN THE STATE'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM;
   (D) IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE COMMISSION'S ADOPTION AND/OR ADAPTATION
 OF A BLACK HISTORY CURRICULUM WITH SCOPE AND SEQUENCE  AND  GRADE  LEVEL
 OUTCOMES, SURVEY, CATALOG, AND RECOMMEND TO THE DEPARTMENT:
   (I)  THE  ALIGNMENT OR CRAFT EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS THAT ARE CULTURALLY
 RELEVANT AND INCLUSIVE;
   (II) THE SCOPE OF BLACK HISTORY, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMIT-
 ED TO, HISTORY, CULTURE, CONTRIBUTIONS,  SOCIAL  MOVEMENTS,  LITERATURE,
 AND THE ARTS FROM ANCIENT TO CONTEMPORARY TIMES;
   (III)  THE  INCORPORATION  OF  BLACK HISTORY ACROSS MULTIPLE SUBJECTS,
 INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HISTORY, SOCIAL STUDIES,  LITERATURE,  AND
 THE ARTS TO PROVIDE A HOLISTIC VIEW; AND
   (IV)  DIVERSE  VIEWPOINTS WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, HIGH-
 LIGHTING GENDER, REGIONAL, SOCIOECONOMIC, AND IDEOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.
   (E) SURVEY AND CATALOG THE EXTENT AND BREADTH OF EDUCATION  CONCERNING
 BLACK  HISTORY PRESENTLY BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE CURRICULA AND TEXT-
 BOOKS AND TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OF THE STATE; AND,  TO  INVENTORY
 THOSE  AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, AMERICAN SLAVERY, OR RELEVANT AFRICAN-AMERI-
 CAN HISTORY MEMORIALS, EXHIBITS AND RESOURCES WHICH SHOULD  BE  INCORPO-
 RATED  INTO  COURSES  OF  STUDY  AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOOLS
 THROUGHOUT THE STATE;
   (F) COMPILE A ROSTER OF  INDIVIDUAL  PROFESSIONALS,  CONSULTANTS,  AND
 EXPERTS WHO ARE WILLING TO CONTRACT TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERI-
 ENCE IN CLASSROOMS, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS WITH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ON
 THE SUBJECT OF BLACK HISTORY;
   (G) PREPARE REPORTS FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING ITS
 FINDINGS  AND  RECOMMENDATIONS  ON  FACILITATING  THE INCLUSION OF BLACK
 HISTORY AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF THE STATE; AND
   (H) INCREASE AWARENESS  AND  ENCOURAGE  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  TO  UTILIZE
 CURRICULA ON BLACK HISTORY BY:
   (I)  PROVIDING  CURRICULUM  AND  PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR
 PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND/OR PUBLIC SCHOOLS  FOR  THE  ACQUISITION  OF
 SUCH CURRICULAR MATERIALS, GUIDES, TEXTS, AND COACHING SO AS TO INCREASE
 THE  EFFICACY  OF  TEACHING AND LEARNING OF SUCH KNOWLEDGE AND TO EFFECT
 ITS FULL INTEGRATION INTO THE CURRICULUM OF ALL SUCH PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AND
 S. 30                               5

   (II) PRIORITIZE THE  HIRING,  CONTRACTING,  AND  PROCUREMENT  OF  SUCH
 SERVICES  AND  MATERIALS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF PARA-
 GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION FROM AMONG THE PROFESSIONALS, CONSULTANTS,
 AND EXPERTS WHO REPRESENT A BROAD ETHNIC  DIVERSITY  THAT  ALSO  HAVE  A
 DEMONSTRATED  LIFE EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND IN BLACK HISTO-
 RY.
   3. MONETARY INCENTIVES SHALL BE APPROPRIATED FOR  SCHOOLS  TO  UTILIZE
 EXISTING  BUDGETS  TO  REPLACE OUTDATED MATERIALS AND TEACHING METHODOL-
 OGIES.
   § 1305. CURRICULUM. 1. THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE CURRICULUM, EDUCA-
 TIONAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH  PRIMARY  SOURCES  AND  NARRATIVES,  LEARNING
 MATERIALS,  AND  PERFORMANCE BASED AND PROJECT-BASED ASSESSMENTS FOR ALL
 GRADES INCLUDING PRESCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE ABOUT:
   (A) BLACK HISTORY AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE HISTORY OF AFRICANS ON  THE
 ECONOMIC,  CULTURAL,  POLITICAL  AND  SOCIAL  FOUNDATION  OF  THE UNITED
 STATES, THE AMERICAS AND THE ECONOMIES, POLITICS AND SOCIETIES OF EUROPE
 AND BEYOND;
   (B) THE INSTITUTION OF CHATTEL SLAVERY IN THE AMERICAS AND EUROPE; AND
   (C) THE ENDURING LEGACY OF CHATTEL SLAVERY IN THE  UNITED  STATES  AND
 THE AMERICAS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (I) THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCT OF RACE;
   (II) INEQUITY AND INJUSTICE STEMMING FROM RACISM; AND
   (III)  PERSEVERANCE, ACTIVISM AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ENSLAVED, THEIR
 DESCENDANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
   2. THE INSTRUCTION SHALL ALSO EMPHASIZE THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF
 EACH CITIZEN TO FIGHT RACISM AND HATRED WHENEVER AND WHEREVER IT HAPPENS
 AND TO UPHOLD THE NATIONAL IDEALS OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
   3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL WORK WITH THE COMMISSION TO  ENSURE  THAT  ALL
 DEPARTMENT  ASSESSMENT  TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS WITHIN THE STATE ARE INCLUSIVE
 OF THE BLACK HISTORY CURRICULUM AND AVAILABLE FOR  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  TO
 ADOPT INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (A)  INCLUSION IN THE DISTRICT COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PLAN AND SCHOOL
 COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PLAN; AND
   (B) INCLUSION IN DISTRICT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PLANS.
   4. CURRICULUM SHALL BE DISSEMINATED BY THE COMMISSION AND SHALL INCOR-
 PORATE THE LEARNING STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS.
   § 1306. AUTHORIZATION. 1. THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED  TO  CALL  UPON
 ANY  DEPARTMENT, OFFICE, DIVISION OR AGENCY OF THE STATE, OR ANY COUNTY,
 MUNICIPALITY OR SCHOOL DISTRICT OF  THE  STATE,  TO  SUPPLY  SUCH  DATA,
 PROGRAM  REPORTS  AND  OTHER  INFORMATION,  AS  IT  DEEMS  NECESSARY  TO
 DISCHARGE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
   2. SUCH DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES, DIVISIONS AND  AGENCIES  SHALL,  TO  THE
 EXTENT  POSSIBLE  AND NOT INCONSISTENT WITH ANY OTHER LAW OF THIS STATE,
 COOPERATE WITH THE COMMISSION AND SHALL FURNISH IT WITH SUCH INFORMATION
 AND ASSISTANCE AS MAY BE NECESSARY OR HELPFUL TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSES
 OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 3. Section 801 of the education law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
   3-A.  THE REGENTS SHALL PRESCRIBE COURSES OF INSTRUCTION IN ACCORDANCE
 WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION THIRTEEN HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   SIMILAR COURSES OF INSTRUCTION SHALL BE PRESCRIBED AND  MAINTAINED  IN
 PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND OFFERED TO HOME SCHOOLS IN THE STATE, AND ALL PUPILS
 IN SUCH SCHOOLS IN GRADES OR CLASSES CORRESPONDING TO THE INSTRUCTION IN
 THE  EIGHTH  AND  HIGHER  GRADES OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL ATTEND UPON
 SUCH COURSES. IF SUCH COURSES ARE NOT SO ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED IN A
 PRIVATE SCHOOL, ATTENDANCE UPON INSTRUCTION IN SUCH SCHOOL SHALL NOT  BE
 S. 30                               6
 
 DEEMED  SUBSTANTIALLY  EQUIVALENT  TO INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO PUPILS IN THE
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE CITY OR DISTRICT IN WHICH SUCH PUPILS RESIDE.
   §  4.  This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that
 section 1305 of the education law, as added by section two of this  act,
 and  subdivision  3-a  of  section 801 of the education law, as added by
 section three of this act shall take effect on the first  of  July  next
 succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law.