S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  1472

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 10, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ROSENTHAL  --  read once and referred to the
  Committee on Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to instruction  in  food,
  agriculture and nutrition

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section  804-e
to read as follows:
  S  804-E.  HEALTH EDUCATION REGARDING FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION.
1. ALL SCHOOLS SHALL INCLUDE, AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF  HEALTH  EDUCATION,
INSTRUCTION  ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION TO PROMOTE EATING BEHAV-
IOR THAT ENHANCES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE STUDENTS.
  2. INSTRUCTION REGARDING FOOD,  AGRICULTURE  AND  NUTRITION  SHALL  BE
INCLUDED  IN  THE  HEALTH  EDUCATION  PROVIDED FOR ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PUPILS AND SHALL BE TAUGHT BY  THE  REGULAR  CLASSROOM  TEACHERS  OR  BY
TEACHERS  CERTIFIED TO TEACH HEALTH EDUCATION. SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL BE
DESIGNED ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS AND ABILITIES OF THE PUPILS  AT  SUCCES-
SIVE GRADE LEVELS WITH THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING DESIRABLE HEALTH BEHAV-
IOR, ATTITUDES AND KNOWLEDGE, AS WELL AS SELF-RELIANCE AND PROBLEM SOLV-
ING CAPACITY.
  3.  INSTRUCTION REGARDING FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION, IN ADDITION
TO CONTINUED HEALTH GUIDANCE IN HIGH SCHOOLS, SHALL BE AN INTEGRAL  PART
OF  A  REQUIRED  HEALTH  EDUCATION COURSE AT EACH LEVEL IN THE SECONDARY
SCHOOL'S CURRICULUM. ANY SUCH COURSE SHALL BE TAUGHT BY TEACHERS HOLDING
A CERTIFICATE TO TEACH HEALTH. RELATED COURSES IN THE  SECONDARY  SCHOOL
CURRICULUM  SHALL  BE  TAUGHT IN A MANNER SUPPORTIVE OF HEALTH EDUCATION
REGARDING FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION.
  4. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PRESCRIBE SUCH REGULATIONS REGARDING  INSTRUC-
TION  ON  FOOD,  AGRICULTURE  AND NUTRITION AS THE COMMISSIONER MAY DEEM
NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE  OF  PUPILS  AND  THE
COMMUNITY.  THE  CONTENTS  MAY BE VARIED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PARTICULAR

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01792-01-1
              

A. 1472                             2

SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OR PORTIONS THEREOF, AND NEED NOT BE UNIFORM  THROUGH-
OUT  THE  STATE,  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL UTILIZE
EITHER THE CURRICULUM FOR HEALTH EDUCATION INSTRUCTION  REGARDING  FOOD,
AGRICULTURE  AND  NUTRITION  PRESCRIBED  BY THE COMMISSIONER OR A COURSE
APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER IN ACCORDANCE WITH CRITERIA ESTABLISHED  BY
THE COMMISSIONER.
  5.  SCHOOL  AUTHORITIES  SHALL PROVIDE THE NEEDED FACILITIES, TIME AND
PLACE FOR THE INSTRUCTION SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION  AND  SHALL  PROVIDE
LEARNING  AIDS  AND  CURRICULUM  RESOURCE  MATERIALS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO
EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHODS AND LEARNING IN  HEALTH  EDUCATION  REGARDING
FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION.
  S  2.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.