NY State Senate Bill 2019-S8867A

Senate Bill S8867A

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Requires the state university of New York and the city university of New York to establish courses of study on ethnic studies, women's studies, and social justice

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules 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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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Aug 28, 2020	print number 8867a
Aug 28, 2020	amend (t) and recommit to rules
Aug 03, 2020	referred to rules

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2019-S8867 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A11044
Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§208-b & 6204-b, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2021-2022: S663, A3797
2023-2024: S1452

2019-S8867 - Summary

Requires the state university of New York and the city university of New York to establish courses of study on ethnic studies, women's studies, and social justice; requires students to complete at least one three-credit course on ethnic studies, women's studies, or social justice to graduate with a baccalaureate degree.

2019-S8867 - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8867

SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring regulations
directing the state university of New York and the city university of
New York to establish courses of study on ethnic studies

 
PURPOSE:

This bill requires regulations directing the state university of New
York and the city university of New York to establish courses of study
on ethnic studies.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the education law to authorize and direct the commis-
sioner and the board of regents of SUNY to establish rules and/or regu-
lations requiring each institution of higher learning in New York state
to provide for courses in ethnic studies in each of its campuses and

requiring, as an undergraduate graduation requirement, completion of, at
a minimum, one three-credit course in ethnic studies.

Section 2 amends the education law to authorize and direct CUNY to
establish rules and/or regulations requiring each institution of higher
learning in New York state to provide for courses in ethnic studies in
each of its campuses and requiring, as an undergraduate graduation
requirement, completion of, at a minimum, one three-credit course in
ethnic studies.

Section 3 establishes an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Racism is a major problem in New York and America. The murder of George
Floyd, the disparities of COVID-19 deaths based on race, economic
inequalities and other issues highlight the problems caused by racism.
Modelled on California legislation that became law in 2020, this bill
would require regulations directing the state university of New York and
the city university of New York to establish courses of study on ethnic
studies for the purpose of increasing understanding of the impact of
racism.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the State

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2019-S8867 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8867
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              August 3, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring  regulations
   directing  the state university of New York and the city university of
   New York to establish courses of study on ethnic studies
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 208-b
 to read as follows:
   § 208-B. COURSES ON ETHNIC STUDIES. 1. THE COMMISSIONER AND THE  BOARD
 OF  REGENTS  ARE AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH RULES AND/OR REGU-
 LATIONS REQUIRING EACH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN NEW YORK  STATE
 TO  PROVIDE  FOR  COURSES  IN ETHNIC STUDIES IN EACH OF ITS CAMPUSES AND
 REQUIRING, AS AN UNDERGRADUATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT, COMPLETION OF, AT
 A MINIMUM, ONE THREE-CREDIT COURSE IN ETHNIC STUDIES.  SUCH  REQUIREMENT
 SHALL  NOT  INCREASE  THE  NUMBER OF UNITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE FROM THE
 INSTITUTION WITH A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE.   SUCH  GRADUATION  REQUIREMENT
 SHALL  NOT  APPLY  TO  A  POSTBACCALAUREATE STUDENT WHO IS ENROLLED IN A
 BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IF THE
 STUDENT HAS SATISFIED EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) THE STUDENT HAS EARNED A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM AN  INSTITUTION
 ACCREDITED BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY.
   (B) THE STUDENT HAS COMPLETED AN ETHNIC STUDIES COURSE AT A POSTSECON-
 DARY  EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION ACCREDITED BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING AGEN-
 CY.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER AND  THE  BOARD  OF  REGENTS  ARE  AUTHORIZED  AND
 DIRECTED  TO  DEVELOP  CORE  COMPETENCIES TO BE ACHIEVED BY STUDENTS WHO
 COMPLETE AN ETHNIC STUDIES COURSE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  THIS
 SECTION.  SUCH  CORE  COMPETENCIES  SHALL  BE  INTENDED  TO  ENSURE THAT
 STUDENTS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING  IN  NEW  YORK  ACQUIRE  THE
 KNOWLEDGE  AND  SKILLS  THAT WILL HELP THEM COMPREHEND THE DIVERSITY AND
 SOCIAL JUSTICE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE SOCIETY IN  WHICH
 THEY  LIVE TO ENABLE SUCH STUDENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY AS RESPONSI-
 BLE AND CONSTRUCTIVE CITIZENS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD17053-01-0

 S. 8867                             2
 
   3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "ETHNIC STUDIES"  SHALL  MEAN  AN
 INTERDISCIPLINARY  AND  COMPARATIVE  STUDY  OF  RACE  AND ETHNICITY WITH
 SPECIAL FOCUS ON  FOUR  HISTORICALLY  DEFINED  RACIALIZED  CORE  GROUPS:
 NATIVE  AMERICANS,  AFRICAN  AMERICANS,  ASIAN AMERICANS, AND LATINA AND
 LATINO AMERICANS.
   §  2.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 6204-b to
 read as follows:
   § 6204-B. COURSES ON ETHNIC STUDIES. 1. THE CITY UNIVERSITY IS AUTHOR-
 IZED AND DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH RULES AND/OR REGULATIONS  REQUIRING  EACH
 INSTITUTION  OF  THE  CITY  UNIVERSITY  TO PROVIDE FOR COURSES IN ETHNIC
 STUDIES IN EACH OF ITS CAMPUSES AND REQUIRING, AS AN UNDERGRADUATE GRAD-
 UATION REQUIREMENT, COMPLETION OF, AT A MINIMUM, ONE THREE-CREDIT COURSE
 IN ETHNIC STUDIES. SUCH REQUIREMENT SHALL NOT  INCREASE  THE  NUMBER  OF
 UNITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE FROM THE CITY UNIVERSITY WITH A BACCALAUREATE
 DEGREE.  SUCH  GRADUATION REQUIREMENT SHALL NOT APPLY TO A POSTBACCALAU-
 REATE STUDENT WHO IS ENROLLED IN A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM  AT  THE
 CITY UNIVERSITY IF THE STUDENT HAS SATISFIED EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (A)  THE STUDENT HAS EARNED A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM AN INSTITUTION
 ACCREDITED BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY.
   (B) THE STUDENT HAS COMPLETED AN ETHNIC STUDIES COURSE AT A POSTSECON-
 DARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION ACCREDITED BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING  AGEN-
 CY.
   2.  THE  CITY  UNIVERSITY  IS  AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO DEVELOP CORE
 COMPETENCIES TO BE ACHIEVED BY STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE AN  ETHNIC  STUDIES
 COURSE  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH CORE COMPETEN-
 CIES SHALL BE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS OF  THE  CITY  UNIVERSITY
 ACQUIRE  THE  KNOWLEDGE  AND  SKILLS  THAT WILL HELP THEM COMPREHEND THE
 DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE HISTORY OF THE UNITED  STATES  AND  OF  THE
 SOCIETY  IN  WHICH  THEY  LIVE  TO ENABLE SUCH STUDENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO
 SOCIETY AS RESPONSIBLE AND CONSTRUCTIVE CITIZENS.
   3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "ETHNIC STUDIES"  SHALL  MEAN  AN
 INTERDISCIPLINARY  AND  COMPARATIVE  STUDY  OF  RACE  AND ETHNICITY WITH
 SPECIAL FOCUS ON  FOUR  HISTORICALLY  DEFINED  RACIALIZED  CORE  GROUPS:
 NATIVE  AMERICANS,  AFRICAN  AMERICANS,  ASIAN AMERICANS, AND LATINA AND
 LATINO AMERICANS.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

2019-S8867A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A11044
Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§208-b & 6204-b, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2021-2022: S663, A3797
2023-2024: S1452

2019-S8867A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2019-S8867A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8867A               Revised 10/15/2020

SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring regulations
directing the state university of New York and the city university of
New York to establish courses of study on ethnic studies, women's
studies, and social justice

 
PURPOSE:

This bill requires regulations directing the state university of New
York and the city university of New York to establish courses of study
on ethnic studies, women's studies or social justice; and requires
students to complete at least one three-credit course on ethnic studies,
women's studies, or social justice to graduate with a baccalaureate
degree.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the education law to authorize and direct the commis-
sioner and the board of regents of SUNY to establish rules and/or regu-
lations requiring each institution of higher learning in New York state
to provide for courses in ethnic studies, women's studies or social
justice in each of its campuses and requiring, as an undergraduate grad-
uation requirement, completion of, at a minimum, one three-credit course
in ethnic studies, women's studies or social justice.

Section 2 amends the education law to authorize and direct CUNY to
establish rules and/or regulations requiring each institution of higher
learning in New York state to provide for courses in ethnic studies,
women's studies or social justice in each of its campuses and requiring,
as an undergraduate graduation requirement, completion of, at a minimum,
one three-credit course in ethnic studies, women's studies or social
justice.

Section 3 establishes an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Racism is a major problem in New York and America. The murder of George
Floyd, the disparities of COVID-19 deaths based on race, economic
inequalities and other issues highlight the problems caused by racism.
Modelled on California legislation that became law in 2020, this bill
would require regulations directing the state university of New York and
the city university of New York to establish courses of study on ethnic
studies, women's studies or social justice; and requires students to
complete at least one three-credit course on ethnic studies, women's
studies, or social justice to graduate with a baccalaureate degree for
the purpose of increasing understanding of the impact of prejudice.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the State
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2019-S8867A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8867--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              August 3, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be  committed  to  the  Committee  on  Rules  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN  ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring regulations
   directing the state university of New York and the city university  of
   New  York  to  establish  courses  of study on ethnic studies, women's
   studies, and social justice
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 208-b
 to read as follows:
   § 208-B. COURSES  ON  ETHNIC  STUDIES,  WOMEN'S  STUDIES,  AND  SOCIAL
 JUSTICE.    1.  THE COMMISSIONER AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS ARE AUTHORIZED
 AND DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH RULES AND/OR REGULATIONS REQUIRING EACH INSTI-
 TUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN NEW YORK STATE TO PROVIDE  FOR  COURSES  IN
 ETHNIC  STUDIES,  WOMEN'S  STUDIES,  AND  SOCIAL  JUSTICE IN EACH OF ITS
 CAMPUSES AND REQUIRING,  AS  AN  UNDERGRADUATE  GRADUATION  REQUIREMENT,
 COMPLETION  OF, AT A MINIMUM, ONE THREE-CREDIT COURSE IN ETHNIC STUDIES,
 WOMEN'S STUDIES, OR SOCIAL JUSTICE.  SUCH REQUIREMENT SHALL NOT INCREASE
 THE NUMBER OF UNITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE FROM  THE  INSTITUTION  WITH  A
 BACCALAUREATE  DEGREE.  SUCH GRADUATION REQUIREMENT SHALL NOT APPLY TO A
 POSTBACCALAUREATE STUDENT WHO IS  ENROLLED  IN  A  BACCALAUREATE  DEGREE
 PROGRAM  AT  AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IF THE STUDENT HAS SATIS-
 FIED EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) THE STUDENT HAS EARNED A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM AN  INSTITUTION
 ACCREDITED BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY.
   (B)  THE  STUDENT HAS COMPLETED AN ETHNIC STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES, OR
 SOCIAL JUSTICE COURSE AT A POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION ACCRED-
 ITED BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER AND  THE  BOARD  OF  REGENTS  ARE  AUTHORIZED  AND
 DIRECTED  TO  DEVELOP  CORE  COMPETENCIES TO BE ACHIEVED BY STUDENTS WHO
 COMPLETE AN ETHNIC STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES, OR  SOCIAL  JUSTICE  COURSE
 PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  THIS SECTION. SUCH CORE COMPETENCIES
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD17053-02-0

 S. 8867--A                          2
 
 SHALL BE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT  STUDENTS  OF  INSTITUTIONS  OF  HIGHER
 LEARNING  IN  NEW  YORK  ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT WILL HELP
 THEM COMPREHEND THE DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE HISTORY OF  THE  UNITED
 STATES  AND OF THE SOCIETY IN WHICH THEY LIVE TO ENABLE SUCH STUDENTS TO
 CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY AS RESPONSIBLE AND CONSTRUCTIVE CITIZENS.
   3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "ETHNIC STUDIES"  SHALL  MEAN  AN
 INTERDISCIPLINARY  AND  COMPARATIVE  STUDY  OF  RACE  AND ETHNICITY WITH
 SPECIAL FOCUS ON  FOUR  HISTORICALLY  DEFINED  RACIALIZED  CORE  GROUPS:
 NATIVE  AMERICANS,  AFRICAN  AMERICANS,  ASIAN AMERICANS, AND LATINA AND
 LATINO AMERICANS.
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new  section  6204-b  to
 read as follows:
   §  6204-B.  COURSES  ON  ETHNIC  STUDIES,  WOMEN'S STUDIES, AND SOCIAL
 JUSTICE.  1. THE CITY UNIVERSITY IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH
 RULES AND/OR REGULATIONS REQUIRING EACH INSTITUTION OF THE CITY  UNIVER-
 SITY  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  COURSES  IN ETHNIC STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES, AND
 SOCIAL JUSTICE IN EACH OF ITS CAMPUSES AND REQUIRING, AS AN  UNDERGRADU-
 ATE  GRADUATION REQUIREMENT, COMPLETION OF, AT A MINIMUM, ONE THREE-CRE-
 DIT COURSE IN ETHNIC STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES, OR SOCIAL JUSTICE.   SUCH
 REQUIREMENT  SHALL NOT INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNITS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE
 FROM THE CITY UNIVERSITY WITH A BACCALAUREATE  DEGREE.  SUCH  GRADUATION
 REQUIREMENT  SHALL  NOT  APPLY  TO  A  POSTBACCALAUREATE  STUDENT WHO IS
 ENROLLED IN A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM AT THE CITY UNIVERSITY IF THE
 STUDENT HAS SATISFIED EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) THE STUDENT HAS EARNED A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM AN  INSTITUTION
 ACCREDITED BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY.
   (B)  THE  STUDENT HAS COMPLETED AN ETHNIC STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES, OR
 SOCIAL JUSTICE COURSE AT A POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION ACCRED-
 ITED BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY.
   2. THE CITY UNIVERSITY IS AUTHORIZED  AND  DIRECTED  TO  DEVELOP  CORE
 COMPETENCIES  TO BE ACHIEVED BY STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE AN ETHNIC STUDIES,
 WOMEN'S STUDIES, OR SOCIAL JUSTICE COURSE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF
 THIS SECTION. SUCH CORE COMPETENCIES SHALL BE INTENDED  TO  ENSURE  THAT
 STUDENTS  OF  THE  CITY UNIVERSITY ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT
 WILL HELP THEM COMPREHEND THE DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL  JUSTICE  HISTORY  OF
 THE  UNITED  STATES AND OF THE SOCIETY IN WHICH THEY LIVE TO ENABLE SUCH
 STUDENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY AS RESPONSIBLE AND CONSTRUCTIVE  CITI-
 ZENS.
   3.  FOR  THE  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "ETHNIC STUDIES" SHALL MEAN AN
 INTERDISCIPLINARY AND COMPARATIVE  STUDY  OF  RACE  AND  ETHNICITY  WITH
 SPECIAL  FOCUS  ON  FOUR  HISTORICALLY  DEFINED  RACIALIZED CORE GROUPS:
 NATIVE AMERICANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS, ASIAN  AMERICANS,  AND  LATINA  AND
 LATINO AMERICANS.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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