Senate Bill S1985

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S1985

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
requiring a course of instruction in the awareness of hate crimes

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :
To educate every child in New York State on the issue of hate crimes.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :
Section 1 - - Adds section 815 to the education law which would
require a course of instruction in the awareness of hate crimes. The
commissioner would be directed to provide and proscribe a course of
instruction designed to increase awareness of hate crimes. Hate crimes
is defined as offenses which are committed based upon the race, color,
national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age,
disability or sexual orientation of the victim. Instruction will
include examples of symbols and objects associated with hate crimes
and the events and historical significance surrounding such symbols
and objects.  The instruction will also focus on the moral aspects and
legal implications of such offenses and promote attitudes of tolerance
and acceptance.

The board of education, trustees, principal or other person in charge
of every private, public and parochial school in the state shall
arrange for giving such course of instruction in every school under
its or his or her control or direction. These directions shall be
              

given to all pupils in every school for a period of not less than
forty-five minutes in each month during which such school is in
session.

 JUSTIFICATION :
The recent prevalence of public hate crimes, including the hanging of
nooses, displays of swastikas, and cross burnings, has increased
awareness of continuing racial hatred in our nation. The current cases
involving the "Jena 6" in Louisiana, where a noose was hung on an oak
tree outside a local high school, the hanging of a noose on the door
of Madonna Constantine, an African-American professor at Columbia
University, an assault at Gallaudet University where a student was
held down against his will and had swastikas and KKK drawn on his
body, and most recently, the burning of a cross on the property of a
black family in upstate New York, draw attention to a disturbing trend
that is occurring in America. While these are just a small sampling of
hate crimes, the FBI in a November 2007 report found that hate crimes
in America have increased by 8 percent over the last year. Police
across the country have reported that over the last year criminal
incidents targeting victims or property as a result of bias against a
particular race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or national
origin or physical or mental disability rose from 7,163 to 7,722.
These numbers prove that we need to pay greater attention to an
alarming trend that is contrary to the core values of America.

In response, this legislation would require the State to offer a
valuable course to increase awareness of hate crimes to every child in
New York State. It is important that schools teach core values of
tolerance, acceptance and understanding to its students in order to
prevent hate crimes. Educating children about the vile nature of hate
crimes will directly combat negative language and stereotypes that are
prevalent in our culture and the media. By educating our youth of the
implications and consequences of hate crimes, the children of New York
will better understand the differences in each citizen that make our
state unique.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2007-08 (A9591)

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
Undetermined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.