Senate Bill S8701

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Establishes a task force to study school start times

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 10, 2018	referred to education

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Commissions

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes a task force to study the feasibility of all middle schools and high schools in New York state beginning their school day at 8:30 a.m. or later.

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8701

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to establish a task force to study school start times

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends an establishment to determine the amount of New York
State middle schools and high schools beginning their school day at 8:30
a.m. and those that begin after.

Section 2 amends the task force shall be comprised of two member
appointed by the governor, two members appointed by the temporary presi-
dent of the senate; two member appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
and one member appointed by the commissioner of the department of educa-
tion. One of the appointments by the governor shall serve as chairperson
of the task force.

Section 3 amends this act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Most studies reviewed provide evidence that delaying school start time
increases weeknight sleep duration among adolescents, primarily by
delaying rise times. Most of the studies saw a significant increase in
sleep duration even with relatively small delays in start times of half
an hour or so. Later start times also generally correspond to improved
attendance, less tardiness, less falling asleep in class, better grades,
and fewer motor vehicle crashes.

Insufficient sleep in children and adolescents has been shown to be
associated with a wide variety of adverse outcomes in multiple aspects
of their lives from poor mental and physical health to behavioral prob-
lems and poor academic grades. Insufficient sleep has been linked to
excess weight, decreased physical activity, and increased food intake,
possibly due to alterations in appetite-regulating hormones. Results of
investigations into longitudinal changes in weight attributable to sleep
duration, however, have been mixed.

City Council education committee chairman Mark Treyger wants NYC public
schools to consider starting just a bit later in the morning so students
can get more rest and do better in class and at home. "We are pitting
the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of our city's
adolescents against their ability to succeed in the classroom," he said.
Data published in January 2018 by the city Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene showed three-quarters of city kids ages 13 to 18 get
fewer than eight hours of sleep a night.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New legislation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8701
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 10, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to establish a task force to study school start times
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. a. A task force is hereby established to study  the  feasi-
 bility of all middle schools and high schools beginning their school day
 at 8:30 a.m. or later.
   b. The task force shall:
   (i)  study  the  feasibility  of all New York state middle schools and
 high schools beginning their school day at 8:30 a.m. or later;
   (ii) determine the amount of New York state middle  schools  and  high
 schools that currently begin their school day before 8:30 a.m. and those
 that begin after, in addition to:
   (1) the socio-economic environment of such schools; and
   (2)  the  logistical  justifications  such  schools may have for their
 start time;
   (iii) study data on sleep deprivation of middle school and high school
 students, and the effect of school start  times  on  such  sleep  depri-
 vation; and
   (iv)  determine  if  any  encumbrances  exist  that  would inhibit the
 department of education from implementing such a measure, such as:
   (1) union-related contracts or local regulations;
   (2) school bus and logistical issues; and
   (3) after-school sports and activities.
   c. No later than one year after the effective date of  this  act,  the
 task  force  shall  report its findings to the governor and the legisla-
 ture, as described under subdivision b this section.
   § 2. a. The task force shall be comprised of:
   (i) two members appointed by the governor;
   (ii) two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
   (iii) two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and
   (iv) one member appointed by the commissioner  of  the  department  of
 education.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14782-01-8

 S. 8701                             2
 
   b.  One of the appointments by the governor shall serve as chairperson
 of the task force.
   c.  The  members  of  the task force shall receive no compensation for
 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
 incurred in the performance of their services.
   d. All departments,  divisions,  bureaus,  commissions,  districts  or
 agencies  of  the  state or any political subdivisions thereof shall, at
 the request of the chairperson, provide the task force with such facili-
 ties, assistance and data as will enable the task force to carry out its
 powers and duties.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S8701

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Senate Bill S8701

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Sponsored By

Luis R. Sepúlveda

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S8701 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments