Senate Bill S5900A

                                BILL NUMBER:S5900A

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
requiring certain public schools in any city with a population over
one million to offer food options during lunch

PURPOSE OF THE BILL:

This legislation will require a public school, in any city that has
over one million inhabitants, that has twenty five percent or more of
students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary
restriction shall offer food options which meet such dietary
restrictions.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section
915-a which requires that in any city having over one million
inhabitants, any public school that has twenty-five percent or more of
students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary
restrictions shall offer food options which meet such dietary
restrictions.

Section 2 of the bill sets forth an effective date of one hundred and
twenty days after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations
              

necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is
authorized to be made one or before such date.

JUSTIFICATION:

In city with ethnic diversity like New York City, the population of
residents and children who practice a religious faith with specific
dietary restrictions is rising. Because of their religious dietary
requirements, these students, who are attending public schools in New
York City, are restricted in what they can eat during lunch at school.
In certain cases, even though public schools already provide healthy
and nutritious food options, students have to go without out eating
and throw away lunches that do not meet their religious food
restrictions.

Offering students these types of food options during lunch not only
accommodates their dietary restriction but also enhances students'
awareness and respect for diversity in cultures, religions, and
ethnicities.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

Assembly Bill No. 5417/2013 (Ortiz)

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: One hundred and twenty days after it shall have become
a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of
any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act


on its effective date is authorized to be made one or before such
date.