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

                                  6843

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              April 6, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. CRESPO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE,
  ARROYO, AUBRY, BARCLAY, BARRON,  BRINDISI,  BUTLER,  CERETTO,  COLTON,
  CORWIN,  CROUCH,  CURRAN,  FITZPATRICK,  GIGLIO, GRAF, HAWLEY, HIKIND,
  HOOPER,  MALLIOTAKIS,  McDONALD,  McLAUGHLIN,  MILLER,  MOYA,   ORTIZ,
  PALMESANO, PERRY, PRETLOW, RA, RAIA, RAMOS, ROBINSON, RODRIGUEZ, SALA-
  DINO, SCARBOROUGH, SCHIMMINGER, SIMANOWITZ, TEDISCO, THIELE, WRIGHT --
  read once and referred to the Committee on Education

AN  ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing religious
  meetings and worship in school buildings and school sites

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

  Section 1. The opening paragraph and paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of
section  414  of  the education law, the opening paragraph as amended by
chapter 369 of the laws of 1977 and paragraph (c) as amended by  chapter
345 of the laws of 2009, are amended and a new subdivision 3 is added to
read as follows:
  Schoolhouses  and  the  grounds  connected  therewith and all property
belonging to the district shall be in the custody and under the  control
and  supervision  of the trustees or board of education of the district.
The trustees or board of education, OR IN  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK  THE
COMMUNITY  SCHOOL BOARD, may adopt reasonable regulations for the use of
such schoolhouses, grounds or other property, all portions thereof, when
not in use for school purposes or when the school is in use  for  school
purposes  if  in  the  opinion of the trustees or board of education use
will not be disruptive of  normal  school  operations,  for  such  other
public purposes as are herein provided[; except, however, in the city of
New York each community school board shall be authorized to prohibit any
use  of  schoolhouses and school grounds within its district which would
otherwise be permitted under the provisions of this section]. Such regu-
lations shall provide for the safety and  security  of  the  pupils  and
shall not conflict with the provisions of this chapter and shall conform

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06374-01-5
              

A. 6843                             2

to  the  purposes  and  intent  of  this section and shall be subject to
review on appeal to the commissioner of education as  provided  by  law.
The  trustees  or  board  of  education of each district may, subject to
regulations adopted as above provided, permit the use of the schoolhouse
and  rooms  therein, and the grounds and other property of the district,
when not in use for school purposes or when the school  is  in  use  for
school  purposes if in the opinion of the trustees or board of education
use will not be disruptive of normal school operations, for any  of  the
following purposes:
  (c) For holding social, civic, RELIGIOUS and recreational meetings and
entertainments, and other uses pertaining to the welfare of the communi-
ty; but such meetings, entertainment and uses shall be non-exclusive and
shall  be  open to the general public. Civic meetings shall include, but
not be limited to, meetings of parent  associations  and  parent-teacher
associations.
  3.  NOTHING  IN  THIS SECTION SHALL AUTHORIZE THE TRUSTEES OR BOARD OF
EDUCATION OF THE DISTRICT TO ADOPT OR INTERPRET REGULATIONS FOR THE  USE
OF  SCHOOLHOUSES, GROUNDS OR OTHER PROPERTY, PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE
OF THIS SECTION, THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE  EXCLUSION  OR  LIMITATION  OF
SPEECH,  DURING  NON  SCHOOL  HOURS, EVEN WHERE STUDENTS MAY BE PRESENT,
INCLUDING SPEECH THAT EXPRESSES RELIGIOUS CONDUCT OR DISCUSSES  SUBJECTS
FROM A RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINT.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.