S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
654
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- 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 climate
change education in public schools
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 817 to
read as follows:
§ 817. CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION. 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CREATE AND
REQUIRE CLIMATE CHANGE INSTRUCTION WITHIN THE CURRENT ESTABLISHED
SCIENCE CURRICULUM. SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL BE TAUGHT IN GRADES ONE
THROUGH TWELVE IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
2. SCHOOLS SHALL BEGIN TEACHING SUCH CLIMATE CHANGE INSTRUCTION IN THE
FIRST SCHOOL YEAR FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION BY THE COMMISSIONER THAT SUCH
INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
3. SCHOOL AUTHORITIES SHALL PROVIDE THE NEEDED FACILITIES, TIME AND
PLACE FOR THE INSTRUCTION SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION AND SHALL PROVIDE
LEARNING AIDS AND CURRICULUM RESOURCE MATERIALS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO
EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHODS AND LEARNING IN EDUCATION REGARDING CLIMATE
CHANGE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06150-01-1