S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
553
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. LIU, COONEY, JACKSON, KAVANAGH, WEBB -- read twice
and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the observance of all
religious holidays by institutions within the state university and the
city university of New York, and including the Asian Lunar New Year
within the definition of such holidays
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 224-a of the education law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
8. NOTWITHSTANDING THE DEFINITION OF "RELIGIOUS BELIEF" AS DEFINED IN
SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF THIS SECTION, ANY STUDENT THAT CELEBRATES THE
CULTURAL OBSERVANCE OF THE ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR SHALL BE EXCUSED FOR
THAT CULTURAL OBSERVANCE IN THE SAME MANNER AS STUDENTS EXCUSED DUE TO
SUCH STUDENTS' RELIGIOUS BELIEFS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6235 to read
as follows:
§ 6235. STUDENTS UNABLE BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS TO REGISTER OR
ATTEND CLASSES ON CERTAIN DAYS. 1. NO PERSON SHALL BE EXPELLED FROM OR
BE REFUSED ADMISSION AS A STUDENT TO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION
FOR THE REASON THAT SUCH PERSON IS UNABLE, BECAUSE OF SUCH PERSON'S
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, TO REGISTER OR ATTEND CLASSES OR TO PARTICIPATE IN
ANY EXAMINATION, STUDY OR WORK REQUIREMENTS ON A PARTICULAR DAY OR DAYS.
2. ANY STUDENT IN AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHO IS UNABLE,
BECAUSE OF SUCH STUDENT'S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, TO ATTEND CLASSES ON A
PARTICULAR DAY OR DAYS SHALL, BECAUSE OF SUCH ABSENCE ON THE PARTICULAR
DAY OR DAYS, BE EXCUSED FROM ANY EXAMINATION OR ANY STUDY OR WORK
REQUIREMENTS.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01196-01-5
S. 553 2
3. IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FACULTY AND OF THE ADMINIS-
TRATIVE OFFICIALS OF EACH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO MAKE AVAIL-
ABLE TO EACH STUDENT WHO IS ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, BECAUSE OF SUCH
STUDENT'S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, AN EQUIVALENT OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER FOR
CLASSES OR MAKE UP ANY EXAMINATION, STUDY OR WORK REQUIREMENTS WHICH
SUCH STUDENT MAY HAVE MISSED BECAUSE OF SUCH ABSENCE ON ANY PARTICULAR
DAY OR DAYS. NO FEES OF ANY KIND SHALL BE CHARGED BY THE INSTITUTION FOR
MAKING AVAILABLE TO THE SAID STUDENT SUCH EQUIVALENT OPPORTUNITY.
4. IF REGISTRATION, CLASSES, EXAMINATIONS, STUDY OR WORK REQUIREMENTS
ARE HELD ON FRIDAY AFTER FOUR O'CLOCK POST MERIDIAN OR ON SATURDAY,
SIMILAR OR MAKEUP CLASSES, EXAMINATIONS, STUDY OR WORK REQUIREMENTS OR
OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OTHER DAYS, WHERE IT
IS POSSIBLE AND PRACTICABLE TO DO SO. NO SPECIAL FEES SHALL BE CHARGED
TO THE STUDENT FOR THESE CLASSES, EXAMINATIONS, STUDY OR WORK REQUIRE-
MENTS OR REGISTRATION HELD ON OTHER DAYS.
5. IN EFFECTUATING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, IT SHALL BE THE
DUTY OF THE FACULTY AND OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS OF EACH INSTITU-
TION OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO EXERCISE THE FULLEST MEASURE OF GOOD FAITH.
NO ADVERSE OR PREJUDICIAL EFFECTS SHALL RESULT TO ANY STUDENT BECAUSE OF
SUCH STUDENT AVAILING THEMSELF OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
6. ANY STUDENT, WHO IS AGGRIEVED BY THE ALLEGED FAILURE OF ANY FACULTY
OR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS TO COMPLY IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS SECTION, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO MAINTAIN AN ACTION OR PROCEEDING
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH SUCH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION IS LOCATED FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH STUDENT'S RIGHTS UNDER
THIS SECTION.
7. IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS OF
EACH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO GIVE WRITTEN NOTICE TO STUDENTS
OF THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THIS SECTION, INFORMING THEM THAT EACH STUDENT WHO
IS ABSENT FROM SCHOOL, BECAUSE OF SUCH STUDENT'S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS,
SHALL BE GIVEN AN EQUIVALENT OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES OR MAKE
UP ANY EXAMINATION, STUDY OR WORK REQUIREMENTS WHICH SUCH STUDENT MAY
HAVE MISSED BECAUSE OF SUCH ABSENCE ON ANY PARTICULAR DAY OR DAYS. NO
FEES OF ANY KIND SHALL BE CHARGED BY THE INSTITUTION FOR MAKING AVAIL-
ABLE TO SUCH STUDENT SUCH EQUIVALENT OPPORTUNITY.
8. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM "INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION"
SHALL MEAN ANY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, RECOGNIZED AND APPROVED
BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, WHICH
PROVIDES A COURSE OF STUDY LEADING TO THE GRANTING OF A POST-SECONDARY
DEGREE OR DIPLOMA. SUCH TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY INSTITUTION WHICH IS
OPERATED, SUPERVISED OR CONTROLLED BY A CHURCH OR BY A RELIGIOUS OR
DENOMINATIONAL ORGANIZATION WHOSE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE PRINCIPALLY
DESIGNED FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING MINISTERS OR OTHER RELIGIOUS FUNC-
TIONARIES OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROPAGATING RELIGIOUS DOCTRINES. AS USED
IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM "RELIGIOUS BELIEF" SHALL MEAN BELIEFS ASSOCI-
ATED WITH ANY CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR RELI-
GIOUS PURPOSES, WHICH IS NOT DISQUALIFIED FOR TAX EXEMPTION UNDER
SECTION 501 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE.
9. NOTWITHSTANDING THE DEFINITION OF "RELIGIOUS BELIEF" AS DEFINED IN
SUBDIVISION EIGHT OF THIS SECTION, ANY STUDENT THAT CELEBRATES THE
CULTURAL OBSERVANCE OF THE ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR SHALL BE EXCUSED FOR
THAT CULTURAL OBSERVANCE IN THE SAME MANNER AS STUDENTS EXCUSED DUE TO
SUCH STUDENTS' RELIGIOUS BELIEFS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
