S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5328
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 22, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the public
school curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade twelve to
include a minimum of two hours per week instruction in civics lessons
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 801-a of the education law, as amended by chapter
482 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
S 801-a. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education.
1. The regents shall ensure that the course of instruction in grades
kindergarten through twelve includes a component on civility, citizen-
ship and character education. Such component shall instruct students on
the principles of honesty, tolerance, RACIAL AND GLOBAL HARMONY,
personal responsibility, MORALS, ETHICS, respect for others, observance
of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which will enhance
the quality of their experiences in, and contributions to, the communi-
ty. THE INSTRUCTION SHALL EMPHASIZE THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SUCH
LESSONS AND THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE STUDENT'S LIFE
AND ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS OF IMPLEMENTING THE LESSONS.
2. THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND TRUSTEES OF THE CITIES AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS OF THE STATE SHALL REQUIRE INSTRUCTION TO BE GIVEN IN SUCH
MATTERS FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF TWO HOURS PER WEEK, BY THE TEACHERS
EMPLOYED IN THE SCHOOLS THEREIN, COMMENCING WITH THE TWO THOUSAND THIR-
TEEN--TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN SCHOOL YEAR. ALL PUPILS OVER THE AGE OF FIVE
YEARS WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL RECEIVE SUCH INSTRUCTION.
3. The regents shall determine how to incorporate such component in
existing curricula and the commissioner shall promulgate any regulations
needed to carry out such determination of the regents. For the purposes
of this section, "tolerance," "respect for others" and "dignity" shall
include awareness and sensitivity to discrimination or harassment and
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03058-01-3
A. 5328 2
civility in the relations of people of different races, weights,
national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental
or physical abilities, sexual orientations, genders, and sexes.
S 2. Section 801-a of the education law, as amended by chapter 102 of
the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
S 801-a. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education.
1. The regents shall ensure that the course of instruction in grades
kindergarten through twelve includes a component on civility, citizen-
ship and character education. Such component shall instruct students on
the principles of honesty, tolerance, RACIAL AND GLOBAL HARMONY,
personal responsibility, MORALS AND ETHICS, respect for others, with an
emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment, bullying, discrimination,
observance of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which
will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and contributions to,
the community. THE INSTRUCTION SHALL EMPHASIZE THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION
OF SUCH LESSONS AND THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE STUDENT'S
LIFE AND ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS OF IMPLEMENTING THE LESSONS.
2. THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND TRUSTEES OF THE CITIES AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS OF THE STATE SHALL REQUIRE INSTRUCTION TO BE GIVEN IN SUCH
MATTERS FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF TWO HOURS PER WEEK, BY THE TEACHERS
EMPLOYED IN THE SCHOOLS THEREIN, COMMENCING WITH THE TWO THOUSAND THIR-
TEEN--TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN SCHOOL YEAR. ALL PUPILS OVER THE AGE OF FIVE
YEARS WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL RECEIVE SUCH INSTRUCTION.
3. Such component shall include instruction of safe, responsible use
of the internet and electronic communications. The regents shall deter-
mine how to incorporate such component in existing curricula and the
commissioner shall promulgate any regulations needed to carry out such
determination of the regents. For the purposes of this section, "toler-
ance," "respect for others" and "dignity" shall include awareness and
sensitivity to harassment, bullying, discrimination and civility in the
relations of people of different races, weights, national origins,
ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abili-
ties, sexual orientations, genders, and sexes.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
section two of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the
same manner as section 8 of chapter 102 of the laws of 2012, takes
effect.