Senate Bill S2860

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2860

SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring certain
public schools in any city with a population over one million to offer
food options which meet dietary restrictions of certain students

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To require public schools in a city with over million inhabitants to
offer lunch options that meet certain dietary restrictions

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends the Education Law by adding a new section
915-a. This new section requires any New York City public school that
has twenty-five percent or more of students practicing a religious faith
with specific dietary restrictions to offer food options that meet such
dietary restrictions.

              

Section two of the bill provides that this act shall take effect on the
one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.  Effective
immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regu-
lations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date is authorized to be made on or before such date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The City of New York is the only city in The State of New York that has
a population of over one million people. According to the Department of
Education, the City provides public education to about 1,135,334
students across its five boroughs. Within the City there are an esti-
mated 600,000 to 1,000,000 Muslim residents. According to a study
published by Columbia University, approximately ten percent of the New
York City public school children are Muslim.

Within the City of New York, there are also about 1.1 million Jewish
residents. According to the UJA-Federation of New York, about one third
of Jewish students attend public school in New York City, which trans-
lates to more than 100,000 Jewish public school students in the five
boroughs.

So, more than 200,000 public school students in the City of New York are
subject to a financial burden that other students are not liable for.

In order to truly fulfill the Mayor's Free Lunch for All program, legis-
lative action must be taken to equitably distribute meal opportunities
to students of all faiths, especially those that are commonly observed
in The City of New York's public schools.

This bill will finally relieve the many families that rely on the
State's largest public school system to provide a reasonable educational
experience in the critical years of their children's youth and educa-
tion.

This bill advocates for a fair lunch program provided to the students
enrolled in the public school system of the City of New York. This bill
also recognizes the changes required to public school policy as a result
of an increasingly diverse New York City public school system.

 
EXISTING LAW:

Currently, there is no requirement to provide food options in New York
City schools.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020: S2838B - Referred to New York City Education
2019: S2838B - Reported to Education
2018: S4414 - Referred to Education
2017: S4414 - Referred to Education
2013: S5900A- Referred to Rules
2014: S5900A- Referred to Education
2015/2016: S1032- Referred to Education
2017/2018: S4414- Referred to Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementa-
tion of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or
before such date.