Assembly Bill A9246

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9246
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             November 7, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to Bible literacy courses
   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 819 to
 read as follows:
   § 819. COURSE OF INSTRUCTION ON BIBLE LITERACY.   1. THE  COMMISSIONER
 SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS TO ESTABLISH ELECTIVE SOCIAL STUDIES COURS-
 ES  OF  STUDY  ON THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES, OLD TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE, THE
 NEW TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE OR THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES AND THE  NEW  TESTA-
 MENT OF THE BIBLE.
   2. THE PURPOSE OF A COURSE OF STUDY UNDER THIS SECTION IS TO:
   (A)  TEACH STUDENTS KNOWLEDGE OF BIBLICAL CONTENT, CHARACTERS, POETRY,
 AND NARRATIVES THAT  ARE  PREREQUISITES  TO  UNDERSTANDING  CONTEMPORARY
 SOCIETY  AND  CULTURE, INCLUDING LITERATURE, ART, MUSIC, MORES, ORATORY,
 AND PUBLIC POLICY; AND
   (B) FAMILIARIZE STUDENTS WITH, AS APPLICABLE:
   (I) THE CONTENTS OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES OR NEW TESTAMENT;
   (II) THE HISTORY OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES OR NEW TESTAMENT;
   (III) THE LITERARY STYLE AND STRUCTURE OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES OR NEW
 TESTAMENT; AND
   (IV) THE INFLUENCE OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES OR NEW TESTAMENT  ON  LAW,
 HISTORY,  GOVERNMENT,  LITERATURE,  ART, MUSIC, CUSTOMS, MORALS, VALUES,
 AND CULTURE.
   3. A STUDENT SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO USE A  SPECIFIC  TRANSLATION  AS
 THE  SOLE  TEXT OF THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES OR NEW TESTAMENT AND MAY USE AS
 THE BASIC TEXTBOOK A DIFFERENT TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW  SCRIPTURES  OR
 NEW TESTAMENT FROM THAT CHOSEN BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13460-01-5
 A. 9246                             2
              

 
   4.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL INCLUDE THE COURSE STANDARDS IN THE PROGRAM
 OF STUDIES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THE TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS  AND
 REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
   5. A COURSE OFFERED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL FOLLOW APPLICABLE LAW AND
 ALL FEDERAL AND STATE GUIDELINES IN MAINTAINING RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY AND
 ACCOMMODATING  THE DIVERSE RELIGIOUS VIEWS, TRADITIONS, AND PERSPECTIVES
 OF STUDENTS IN THE  SCHOOL.  A  COURSE  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  NOT
 ENDORSE,  FAVOR,  OR  PROMOTE, OR DISFAVOR OR SHOW HOSTILITY TOWARD, ANY
 PARTICULAR RELIGION OR NONRELIGIOUS FAITH OR RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE.  THE
 COMMISSIONER,  IN  COMPLYING  WITH  THIS  SECTION, SHALL NOT VIOLATE ANY
 PROVISION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION OR FEDERAL LAW, THE NEW YORK
 CONSTITUTION OR ANY STATE LAW, OR ANY ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS OF  THE
 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR THE DEPARTMENT.
   6.  ANY  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  MAY AUTHORIZE THE DISPLAY OF HISTORIC ARTI-
 FACTS, MONUMENTS, SYMBOLS, AND TEXTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RELI-
 GIOUS MATERIALS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A COURSE OF STUDY THAT INCLUDES  AN
 ELECTIVE  COURSE IN HISTORY, CIVILIZATION, ETHICS, COMPARATIVE RELIGION,
 LITERATURE, OR OTHER SUBJECT AREA THAT USES SUCH  ARTIFACTS,  MONUMENTS,
 SYMBOLS, AND TEXTS AS INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL IF THE DISPLAY IS APPROPRI-
 ATE TO THE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE OF THE COURSE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.