S27-2011 Actions

• Mar 12, 2012: COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
• Feb 27, 2012: NOTICE OF COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION - REQUESTED
• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO EDUCATION
• Jan 5, 2011: REFERRED TO EDUCATION

S27-2011 Meetings

S27-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S27

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the Asian Lunar
New Year school holiday

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide a school holiday in municipal jurisdictions with
substantial Asian populations.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The Education Law is amended by adding a new section to 3204-a to
provide a holiday for all elementary and secondary public schools in
municipal jurisdictions with substantial Asian populations.

JUSTIFICATION:
Lunar New Year day traditionally occurs in late January or early
February. It is one of the most significant cultural holidays for
Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and other Asian ethnic groups. It is a
traditional time of reunion and celebration with family and friends.
While Lunar New Year day is recognized as an official day of
commemoration in New York, public schools do not close for that day.
This places an unfair burden on school children within the Asian
community. It is impractical to keep the public schools open in Asian
communities� when there is a significant number of students and
instructors who take the day off.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2007-2008: A.6061
2009-2010: S.5387/A.4090

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Unable to determine at this time.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Unable to determine at this time.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 120th day after becoming law, with
provisions.

S27-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                          27
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 5, 2011
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SQUADRON -- 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 establishing the Asian
 Lunar New Year school holiday
 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 3204-a
 to read as follows:

 

S 3204-A. ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR SCHOOL HOLIDAY. 1. THE DAY OF THE ASIAN
 LUNAR  CALENDAR  DESIGNATED  AS THE FIRST DAY OF A NEW YEAR AND COMMONLY
 KNOWN AS "ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR'S DAY" SHALL BE A SCHOOL HOLIDAY FOR  ALL
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN A QUALIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
 2.  A  QUALIFIED  SCHOOL DISTRICT, FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, SHALL
 INCLUDE A CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF A CITY  HAVING  A  POPULATION  OF  ONE
 MILLION  OR  MORE INHABITANTS AND HAVING AN ASIAN POPULATION EQUAL TO OR
 GREATER THAN SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT THEREOF. THE  ASIAN  POPULATION,
 FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS SECTION, SHALL INCLUDE THOSE PERSONS, ADULTS AND
 CHILDREN, WHO ARE FULLY OR PARTIALLY OF ASIAN DESCENT AND SHALL  INCLUDE
 ALL  THOSE  PERSONS  AND ETHNIC GROUPS IDENTIFIED AS ASIAN BY THE UNITED
 STATES CENSUS BUREAU FOR PURPOSES  OF  THE  YEAR  TWO  THOUSAND  FEDERAL
 DECENNIAL CENSUS.
 3. THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES OF EVERY QUALIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE HERE
 BY  AUTHORIZED  AND  DIRECTED  TO  CAUSE  ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHIN SUCH
 DISTRICT TO BE CLOSED ON ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR DAY.
 

S 2.

Section 3604 of the education law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 7-a to read as follows:

 7-A.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, FOR PURPOSES OF ANY
 CALCULATION UNDER SUBDIVISION  SEVEN  OR  EIGHT  OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE
 COMMISSIONER  SHALL DISREGARD ANY REDUCTION RESULTING FROM OBSERVANCE OF
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00159-01-1
 
       S. 27                               2
 THE ASIAN LUNAR NEW YEAR AND, IF NECESSARY, SUCH OBSERVED HOLIDAY  SHALL
 BE CALCULATED AS A SESSION DAY.
 

S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it  shall  have  become a law; provided that any and all rules and regu
 lations and any other measures necessary to implement any  provision  of
 this act on its effective date may be promulgated and taken, respective
 ly, on or before such effective date.

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