NY State Senate Bill S351

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

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

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 04, 2023	referred to education

Co-Sponsors

S351 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4375
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add & amd §804-e, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: A10718
2021-2022: S1929, A808

S351 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires school districts and charter schools to include instruction on the political, economic, and social contributions, and lifeways of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people, in an appropriate place in the curriculum of middle school and high school students.

S351 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S351

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to inclusive instruction
and instructional materials; and providing for the repeal of certain
provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bills is to include instruction and adopt instruc-
tional materials in schools that accurately portray political, economic,
and social contributions, and lifeways of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-
gender, queer, intersex, and asexual people.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new Section 804-E to the Education Law that requires
school districts and charter schools to provide instruction on the poli-
tical, economic, and social contributions, and lifeways of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people in an appro-

priate place in the curriculum of middle school and high school
students. School districts must establish policies and procedures
regarding the selection of instructional materials. School districts
must adopt inclusive instructional materials that portray the cultural
and economic diversity of society including the political, economic, and
social contributions, and lifeways of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgen-
der, queer, intersex, and asexual people, where appropriate.

Section 1 also provides defined terms.

Section 2 adds a new subdivision 4 of Section 804-E of the Education Law
that creates a task force to study, make recommendations, and prepare a
report on the policies, procedures, and best practices for the selection
and adoption of inclusive instructional materials. The task force will
consist of 11 members all of whom will have broad ethic, sexual orien-
tation, and gender identity or expression diversity and shall have a
demonstrated educational background in the history of political, econom-
ic, and social contributions, and lifeways of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people. The task force's
report shall be used by school districts and charter schools to create
policies and procedures to implement an inclusive curriculum on the
political, economic, and social contributions, and lifeways of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people.

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual
communities are an integral and essential part of New York and the
United States. Many of the members of these communities have broken
barriers and paved the way for a more inclusive, tolerant, and under-
standing society. Adding a curriculum that includes teaching about the
political, economic, and social contributions, and lifeways of these
communities provides students opportunities to learn about their jour-
neys, accomplishments, and achievements. This bill does not legislate
morality. Rather, this bill teaches that members of the LGBTQIA+ commu-
nities are an integral and essential part of our society that continues
to shape our world.

As New York is the historic home of many of these communities and social
movements, it is fitting and appropriate that our state fully tells
their stories now so our students' understanding prepares them for a
more inclusive world view.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: S.1929 - Referred to Education/A.808-B - Referred to Educa-
tion

2019-2020: S.8433 - Referred to Education/A.10718 - Referred to Educa-
tion

 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to school years
commencing on or after such date, provided, however, that the amendments
to section 804-e of the education law made by section two of this act
shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after such date. Effective
immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regu-
lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective
date.

S351 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    351
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 4, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  JACKSON, HINCHEY, RAMOS -- 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 inclusive instruction
   and instructional materials; and providing for the repeal  of  certain
   provisions upon expiration thereof
 
   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  804-e
 to read as follows:
   §  804-E. INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM OR INSTRUCTION. 1. SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
 CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL INCLUDE INSTRUCTION ON  THE  POLITICAL,  ECONOMIC,
 AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND LIFEWAYS OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANS-
 GENDER,  QUEER, INTERSEX, AND ASEXUAL PEOPLE, IN AN APPROPRIATE PLACE IN
 THE CURRICULUM OF MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
   2. SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL HAVE POLICIES AND PROCE-
 DURES IN PLACE PERTAINING TO THE SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS TO
 IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  THIS  SECTION.  WHEN
 ADOPTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR USE IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE DISTRICT,
 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL ADOPT INCLUSIVE INSTRUCTIONAL
 MATERIALS  THAT  PORTRAY  THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITY OF SOCIETY
 INCLUDING THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS,  AND  LIFE-
 WAYS OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, INTERSEX, AND ASEXU-
 AL PEOPLE, WHERE APPROPRIATE.
   3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   A.  THE  TERM  "GAY"  MEANS  A MAN OR A MALE INDIVIDUAL WHOSE ENDURING
 PHYSICAL, ROMANTIC, OR EMOTIONAL ATTRACTION IS TO ANOTHER  MAN  OR  MALE
 INDIVIDUAL.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02355-01-3
 S. 351                              2

 
   B.  THE TERM "LESBIAN" MEANS A WOMAN OR FEMALE INDIVIDUAL WHOSE ENDUR-
 ING PHYSICAL, ROMANTIC, OR EMOTIONAL ATTRACTION IS TO ANOTHER  WOMAN  OR
 FEMALE INDIVIDUAL.
   C.  THE  TERM  "BISEXUAL"  MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS THE CAPACITY TO
 FORM ENDURING PHYSICAL, ROMANTIC, OR  EMOTIONAL  ATTRACTION  TO  ANOTHER
 INDIVIDUAL  OF  THE  SAME  SEX  OR  GENDER OR TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OF A
 DIFFERENT SEX  OR  GENDER.  BISEXUAL  INDIVIDUALS  MAY  EXPERIENCE  SUCH
 ATTRACTION  IN  DIFFERING WAYS AND DEGREES OVER THEIR LIFETIME. BISEXUAL
 INDIVIDUALS DO NOT NEED TO HAVE SPECIFIC SEXUAL EXPERIENCES OR HAVE  HAD
 ANY SEXUAL EXPERIENCE AT ALL TO HAVE A SEXUAL ORIENTATION OF BISEXUAL.
   D.  THE  TERM "ASSIGNED SEX" MEANS THE CLASSIFICATION OF MALE, FEMALE,
 OR INTERSEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH THAT CORRESPONDS TO THE BIOLOGICAL DIFFER-
 ENCES BETWEEN MALES, FEMALES, OR INTERSEX PEOPLE SUCH AS  GENITALIA  AND
 GENETIC DIFFERENCES.
   E.  THE TERM "TRANSGENDER" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE IDENTIFIED GENDER
 DOES NOT MATCH THEIR ASSIGNED SEX AT BIRTH.
   F. THE TERM "QUEER" MEANS AN  INDIVIDUAL  THAT  DOES  NOT  CONFORM  TO
 SOCIAL GENDER NORMS OR SOCIAL SEXUALITY NORMS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
 TO, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, AND GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, OR TRANS-
 GENDER SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS.
   G.  THE  TERM  "INTERSEX" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL BORN WITH ANY OF SEVERAL
 VARIATIONS IN SEX CHARACTERISTICS  INCLUDING  CHROMOSOMES,  GONADS,  SEX
 HORMONES,  OR  GENITALS THAT DO NOT FIT THE TYPICAL DEFINITIONS FOR MALE
 OR FEMALE BODIES.
   H. THE TERM "ASEXUAL" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS A  LACK  OF  SEXUAL
 ATTRACTION  TO  OTHER  INDIVIDUALS OR HAS A LOW OR ABSENT INTEREST IN OR
 DESIRE FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY.
   I. THE TERM "LIFEWAYS" MEANS THE CUSTOMARY MANNER OF LIVING OR WAY  OF
 LIFE.
   J. THE TERM "GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION" MEANS A PERSON'S ACTUAL OR
 PERCEIVED  GENDER-RELATED IDENTITY, APPEARANCE, BEHAVIOR, EXPRESSION, OR
 OTHER GENDER-RELATED CHARACTERISTIC REGARDLESS OF THE  SEX  ASSIGNED  TO
 THAT PERSON AT BIRTH, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE STATUS OF BEING
 TRANSGENDER.
   §  2.  Section  804-e of the education law, as added by section one of
 this act, is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
   4. A. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMEN-
 DATIONS ON POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR THE SELECTION AND
 ADOPTION OF INCLUSIVE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.
   B. THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE COMPOSED OF ELEVEN MEMBERS TO BE  APPOINTED
 AS FOLLOWS:
   (I) TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR;
   (II)  TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE
 SENATE;
   (III) TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY;
   (IV) ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED  BY  THE  MINORITY  LEADER  OF  THE
 SENATE;
   (V) ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEM-
 BLY;
   (VI)  TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE BOARD OF
 REGENTS; AND
   (VII) ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE COMMISSIONER OR APPOINTED DESIGNEE THER-
 EOF WHO SHALL SERVE AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE TASK FORCE.
   C. ALL APPOINTMENTS TO THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN
 ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION.
 VACANCIES  IN  THE  MEMBERSHIP  OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE FILLED WITHIN
 S. 351                              3
 
 THIRTY DAYS IN THE  SAME  MANNER  PROVIDED  FOR  ORIGINAL  APPOINTMENTS.
 APPOINTED MEMBERS SHALL BE CHOSEN WITH DUE REGARD TO BROAD ETHNIC, SEXU-
 AL  ORIENTATION,  AND  GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION DIVERSITY AND SHALL
 HAVE  A  DEMONSTRATED EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND IN THE HISTORY OF THE POLI-
 TICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND LIFEWAYS OF LESBIAN, GAY,
 BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, INTERSEX, AND ASEXUAL PEOPLE.
   D. THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION  BUT
 SHALL  BE  REIMBURSED FOR NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE
 OF THEIR DUTIES.
   E. THE TASK FORCE SHALL STUDY AND PREPARE A REPORT ON POLICIES, PROCE-
 DURES AND BEST PRACTICES TO PROVIDE AN INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM ON THE POLI-
 TICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND LIFEWAYS OF LESBIAN, GAY,
 BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, INTERSEX, AND ASEXUAL PEOPLE.  THE  REPORT
 PREPARED BY THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE USED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER
 SCHOOLS  TO  CREATE  THE  POLICIES  AND  PROCEDURES REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
 SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION TO  SELECT  INSTRUCTIONAL  MATERIALS  TO
 IMPLEMENT AN INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM ON THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL
 CONTRIBUTIONS,  AND  LIFEWAYS  OF  LESBIAN,  GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER,
 QUEER, INTERSEX, AND ASEXUAL PEOPLE. THE REPORT SHALL  BE  SUBMITTED  TO
 THE  GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE  SENATE  COMMITTEE  ON  EDUCATION,  THE
 CHAIRPERSON  OF  THE  SENATE  COMMITTEE  ON NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION, THE
 CHAIRPERSON OF  THE  ASSEMBLY  COMMITTEE  ON  EDUCATION,  THE  BOARD  OF
 REGENTS,  AND THE COMMISSIONER AND SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHIN THE STATE, NO LATER THAN  ONE  YEAR
 AFTER ALL INITIAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE TASK FORCE HAVE BEEN MADE.
   §  3.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply  to  school
 years  commencing  on  or  after  such date, provided, however, that the
 amendments to section 804-e of the education law made by section two  of
 this  act shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after such date.
 Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
 or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
 tive date are authorized to be made and  completed  on  or  before  such
 effective date.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S351

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Your Voice

Actions

Co-Sponsors

S351 (ACTIVE) - Details

S351 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S351 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S351 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S351

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Sponsored By

Robert Jackson

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Your Voice

Actions

Co-Sponsors

Michelle Hinchey

Jessica Ramos

S351 (ACTIVE) - Details

S351 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S351 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S351 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments