NY State Senate Bill S546

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (7)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 22, 2021	referred to education delivered to assembly passed senate
Jan 26, 2021	advanced to third reading
Jan 25, 2021	2nd report cal.
Jan 20, 2021	1st report cal.83
Jan 06, 2021	referred to education

Votes

Co-Sponsors

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S546 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Assembly Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §817, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S4008

S546 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to student governments in secondary schools.

S546 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S546

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to student governments

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to include student governments in high
schools or district wide where they currently do not exist.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Adds a new section 817 to education law to establish peer
selected student governments either in high schools or district-wide
where there currently are none.

Section 2. This section provides the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

In recent years, there has been a national outcry about the lack of
civic preparedness of students graduating high school. A long tradition
of research suggests that giving students more opportunities to partic-
ipate in the management of their own classrooms and schools builds their
civic skills and attitudes. Thus, giving students a voice in school
governance is a promising way to encourage all young people to engage
civically.

The Carnegie Corporation in its seminal 2011 report, Guardian of Democ-
racy: The Civic Mission of Schools found that "participation in school
governance has benefits for the students directly involved-such as those
elected to a council-and also for their fellow students. Those who
directly participate show better academic success and higher likelihood
of civic participation later on, including activities should require
effort on the part of the student." (cites omitted.)

In addition, a 2003 American Bar Association report noted "the relation-
ship between citizen and society is essential" and the goal of extracur-
ricular activities should be to "illustrate significant connections
between students and larger communities, such as town, nation, and
world." In focusing on this goal, extracurricular activities are a vital
part of well-rounded civic learning." American Bar Association, "Essen-
tials of Law-Related Education," (2003); (See also Reuben Thomas and
Daniel McFarland, "CIRCLE Working Paper 73: Joining Young, Voting Young:
The Effects of Youth Voluntary Associations on Early Adult Voting"
(2010.)

One way in which students can gain the skills necessary to perform their
roles as citizens in an ever-evolving society is through participation
in student government programs. The presence of and participation in
Peer selected student government programs equips students with the know-
ledge and understanding of how government functions and how they can
shape their society through the political process and provides leader-
ship opportunities for a wide range of students. Although some high
schools and school districts in New York State already have student
government programs,there are places where they do not exist. It is
important that New York State ensures the availability of such extracur-
ricular programs that enhance civic engagement and leadership prepared-
ness to high school students across the state.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.4008-C
2019 - Passed Senate
2020 - Advanced to Third Reading

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the
date on which it shall become law.

S546 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    546
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. MAYER, BIAGGI, COMRIE, GOUNARDES, HOYLMAN, JACKSON,
   KRUEGER, LIU, MAY, PERSAUD, RAMOS, SALAZAR, SKOUFIS -- 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 student governments

   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. STUDENT GOVERNMENT. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF EVERY
 SCHOOL  DISTRICT  SERVING  HIGH  SCHOOL  STUDENTS IN GRADES NINE THROUGH
 TWELVE WITH NO DISTRICTWIDE OR SCHOOL  BUILDING  PEER  SELECTED  STUDENT
 GOVERNMENT  SHALL ESTABLISH AT LEAST ONE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
 WITHIN SUCH DISTRICT OR SCHOOL BUILDING WITH THE GOAL  OF  ENSURING  ALL
 ELIGIBLE  STUDENTS  HAVE  THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH STUDENT
 GOVERNMENT.
   § 2. 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.
                                                            LBD02647-01-1

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S546

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Feb 22, 2021 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Feb 22, 2021

Jan 20, 2021 - Education committee Vote

Education Committee Vote: Jan 20, 2021

Co-Sponsors

S546 (ACTIVE) - Details

S546 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S546 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S546 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S546

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Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Feb 22, 2021 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Feb 22, 2021

Jan 20, 2021 - Education committee Vote

Education Committee Vote: Jan 20, 2021

Co-Sponsors

S546 (ACTIVE) - Details

S546 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S546 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S546 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments