S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1155--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 10, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. ROZIC -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Education  in  accord-
   ance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2
 
 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
 102 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
   § 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, MEDIA
 LITERACY,  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 EIGH-
 TEEN--TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN 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-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD00410-02-8

 A. 1155--A                          2
 
 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.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.