S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2727
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 22, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. KAMINSKY, ADDABBO, BIAGGI, BROOKS, GAUGHRAN,
GOUNARDES, HOYLMAN, JACKSON, KAPLAN, KRUEGER, LIU, MAYER, MYRIE,
PERSAUD, SALAZAR, SANDERS, SKOUFIS, THOMAS -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Educa-
tion
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring instruction
regarding symbols of hate
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds the
recent spike in hate crimes across our state and nation as a whole to be
highly disturbing and a societal epidemic in need of remedy. As many of
our youth are not aware of the hateful connotations behind swastikas and
nooses, it is necessary for the legislature to mandate compulsory educa-
tion in all schools across our great state in regard to the meanings of
these two symbols of hate. Requiring students be educated in the signif-
icance of these displays of bigotry will go a long way toward fostering
a more inclusive and tolerant society for all.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 801-b to
read as follows:
§ 801-B. INSTRUCTION REGARDING SYMBOLS OF HATE. THE REGENTS SHALL
ENSURE THAT THE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION FOR GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE
INCLUDES A COMPONENT ON THE MEANING OF THE SWASTIKA AS THE EMBLEM OF
NAZI GERMANY, AS WELL AS THE NOOSE AS A SYMBOL OF RACISM AND INTIM-
IDATION. THE REGENTS SHALL DETERMINE HOW TO INCORPORATE SUCH COMPONENTS
INTO EXISTING CURRICULA, AND THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE ANY REGU-
LATIONS NEEDED TO CARRY OUT SUCH DETERMINATION OF THE REGENTS.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of September next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01151-01-1