S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3407
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 29, 2021
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Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring school
boards of school districts with race-based mascots to, at least once
annually, dedicate a portion of a meeting of such school board to the
discussion of racial sensitivity
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 2002-a
to read as follows:
§ 2002-A. SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH RACE-BASED MASCOTS; SCHOOL BOARD
DISCUSSION OF RACIAL SENSITIVITY. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "RACE-
BASED MASCOT" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON, ANIMAL OR OBJECT USED TO REPRESENT
A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH IS DERIVED FROM A SPECIFIC RACE OR ETHNICITY OR
IS BASED ON CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPECIFIC RACE OR ETHNICITY.
2. ANY SCHOOL BOARD OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHIN THE STATE THAT HAS
ADOPTED A RACE-BASED MASCOT AND WHERE SUCH MASCOT IS USED TO REPRESENT
SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLICLY OR PRIVATELY, SHALL, AT LEAST ONCE ANNUAL-
LY, HAVE ONE PUBLIC MEETING AND DEDICATE A PORTION OF SUCH MEETING OF
SUCH SCHOOL BOARD TO THE DISCUSSION OF RACIAL SENSITIVITY. SUCH
REQUIREMENT SHALL BE INDEFINITE UNTIL A SCHOOL DISTRICT DISASSOCIATES
COMPLETELY WITH SUCH RACE-BASED MASCOT.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04157-01-1