Directs the commissioner of education to prepare an annual course of study of the history of the American flag to encourage participation therein by students and faculty and indicate that the pledge is taken in recognition of the sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces of the United States in defense of our country.

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S1719A-2011 Actions

• Jan 9, 2012: PRINT NUMBER 1719A
• Jan 9, 2012: AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO EDUCATION
• Jan 11, 2011: REFERRED TO EDUCATION

S1719A-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1719A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to the pledge of allegiance

PURPOSE OF BILL:
This bill will authorize the commissioner to establish an annual
course of study of the history of the American flag in an effort to
encourage the participation of its recitation among the students and
faculty of the schools in New York State. The annual course of study
of the history of the American flag will focus on the sacrifices that
were made by those men and women who have served in the armed forces
of the United States in defense of our country.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This bill amends Subdivision 1 of section 802 of the education law, as
amended by chapter 601 of the laws of 1996, to authorize the
commissioner to prepare an annual course of study of the history of
the American flag to focus attention on the sacrifices made by the
men and women who have served in the armed forces.

JUSTIFICATION:
All too often, the daily pledge of allegiance has been disregarded and
little effort has been made in schools to encourage participation in
the pledge's recitation.

This legislation would require the Commissioner to prepare an annual
course of study of the history of the American flag in an effort to
promote student's awareness of the importance of reciting the pledge
of allegiance.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2010:      S.7211 - Referred to Education
2007-2008: S.225  - Referred to Education
2005-2006: S.418  - Referred to Education
2003-2004: S.1187 - Referred to Education
2001-2002: S.1656 - Referred to Education
1999-2001: S.3872 - Referred to Education

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The State Education Department estimates a State fiscal implication
$285,000 for 2010-11. The teaching of this new curriculum would be
optional to local school districts, resulting in no local mandate.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on September 1, 2012.

S1719A-2011 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                   1719--A

                         2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                              January 11, 2011
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sens. ADDABBO, AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed,
    and when printed to be committed to  the  Committee  on  Education  --
    recommitted  to  the  Committee on Education in accordance with Senate
    Rule  6,  sec.  8  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
    reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

  AN  ACT  to  amend the education law, in relation to the pledge of alle-
    giance

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section  1.  Subdivision  1  of  section  802 of the education law, as
  amended by chapter 601 of the laws  of  1996,  is  amended  to  read  as
  follows:

    1. It shall be the duty of the commissioner to prepare, for the use of
  the public schools of the state, a program providing for a salute to the
  flag  and  a  daily pledge of allegiance to the flag, and instruction in
  its correct use and display which shall include, as a minimum,  specific
  instruction regarding respect for the flag of the United States of Amer-
  ica,  its  display and use as provided by federal statute and regulation
  and such other patriotic exercises as may be deemed by him to be expedi-
  ent, under such regulations and instructions as may best meet the varied
  requirements of the different grades  in  such  schools.  However,  such
  instruction  shall include, as a minimum, the provisions of sections one
  hundred seventy through one hundred seventy-seven of title thirty-six of
  the United States Code.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ALSO PREPARE, AS PART OF
  SUCH PROGRAM, WHICH MAY BE USED BY SCHOOL AUTHORITIES, AN ANNUAL  COURSE
  OF  STUDY  OF  THE  HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FLAG THAT ENCOURAGES PARTIC-
  IPATION IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY STUDENTS  AND  FACULTY  AND  THAT
  INDICATES  THAT  THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS TAKEN IN RECOGNITION OF THE
  SACRIFICES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ARMED  FORCES
  OF THE UNITED STATES IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY.
    S  2.  This  act shall take effect on September 1, 2012; provided that
  the commissioner of education is  authorized  to  promulgate  any  rules
  necessary to implement this act on or before its effective date.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD02025-02-2