NY State Senate Bill 2013-S6186

Senate Bill S6186

2013-2014 Legislative Session

Amends the education law with regard to the course of instruction in the historical significance of Native Americans

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2014	referred to education

2013-S6186 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8438
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §817, Ed L

2013-S6186 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides a course of instruction in the historical significance of Native Americans and their culture.

2013-S6186 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S6186

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to a
course of instruction in the historical significance of Native
Americans

PURPOSE:

Require the state commissioner of education, in consultation with
Native American tribes and nations, to develop for all schools of the
state a course of instruction in Native American history and culture.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends the education law to add a new section
817 to require the state commissioner of education, in consultation
with Native American tribes and nations, to develop for all schools of
the state a course of instruction in Native American history and
culture.

Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Several Native American tribes and nations with state and/or federal
legal recognition are located within the state of New York. From

western New York to Long Island, Native American tribes, nations and
individuals have made positive contributions to the state. In fact,
Native American nations and tribes have contributed significantly to
the history, culture and fabric of our society. Further, in recent
years, Native American tribes and nations have contributed
significantly to New York's progress and advances in job creation and
economic development.

Despite the impressive accomplishments and presence of Native American
tribes and nations in the state of New York, there is no state law
that requires a course in New York schools to educate our children on
the historical significance and accomplishments of the Native American
tribes and nations located in New York. While existing curriculums
contain some requirements for education in this area, a course
dedicated to Native American history and culture does not yet exist.
By adding a course of instruction on Native American history and
culture, this legislation will ensure that this important part of New
York's heritage and history is not lost. Further, this legislation
will help provide students with a well-rounded education on New York's
history and ensure that New York students are suitably educated on
this integral part of New York's past, present. and future.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:


This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become
a law.

2013-S6186 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  6186

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 8, 2014
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. MAZIARZ -- 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 a course  of  instruc-
  tion in the historical significance of Native Americans

  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:
  S 817. COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY  AND  CULTURE.
1.  (A)  IN ORDER TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY AND TO
FOSTER IN THE CHILDREN OF THIS STATE A KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION OF THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE,
THE COMMISSIONER IS  HEREBY  AUTHORIZED  AND  DIRECTED  TO  PROVIDE  AND
PRESCRIBE A COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
TO  BE  MAINTAINED AND FOLLOWED IN ALL SCHOOLS OF THE STATE. THE COMMIS-
SIONER SHALL CONSULT WITH THE NATIVE AMERICAN NATIONS AND TRIBES LOCATED
WITHIN THE STATE WITH FEDERAL AND/OR  STATE  LEGAL  RECOGNITION  IN  THE
DEVELOPMENT  OF  SUCH  COURSE  OF  INSTRUCTION  AND  MAY,  AT HIS OR HER
DISCRETION,  ALSO  CONSULT  WITH  OTHER  RELEVANT  STAKEHOLDERS.    SUCH
INSTRUCTION  SHALL  BE  AGE  APPROPRIATE  AND DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO THE
NEEDS AND ABILITIES OF PUPILS AT VARIOUS GRADE LEVELS. SUCH  INSTRUCTION
SHALL  ALSO,  TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PRACTICABLE, BE CONSISTENT WITH AND
INTEGRATED WITH THE CURRENT GENERAL EDUCATION  CURRICULUM  AREAS  ESTAB-
LISHED BY THE STATE.
  (B)  THE  BOARDS  OF  EDUCATION AND TRUSTEES OF THE SEVERAL CITIES AND
SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THE STATE SHALL REQUIRE INSTRUCTION TO BE  GIVEN  IN
SUCH  COURSE  BY  TEACHERS  EMPLOYED  IN THE SCHOOLS THEREIN. ALL PUPILS
ATTENDING SUCH SCHOOLS, OVER THE AGE OF SIX  YEARS,  SHALL  ATTEND  UPON
SUCH  INSTRUCTION.  A  SIMILAR COURSE OF INSTRUCTION SHALL BE PRESCRIBED
AND MAINTAINED IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE, AND ALL PUPILS  IN  SUCH
SCHOOLS  OVER  SIX  YEARS  OF AGE SHALL ATTEND UPON SUCH COURSE. IF SUCH
COURSE IS NOT SO ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL, ATTEND-
ANCE UPON INSTRUCTION IN SUCH SCHOOL SHALL NOT BE  DEEMED  SUBSTANTIALLY

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD13178-02-3

S. 6186                             2

EQUIVALENT  TO  INSTRUCTION  GIVEN  TO  PUPILS OF LIKE AGE IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS OF THE CITY OR DISTRICT IN WHICH SUCH PUPILS RESIDE.
  2.  THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NATIVE AMERICAN NATIONS
AND TRIBES LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE  WITH  FEDERAL  AND/OR  STATE  LEGAL
RECOGNITION,  SHALL DETERMINE THE SUBJECTS TO BE INCLUDED IN SUCH COURSE
AND SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, THE STUDY OF THE FOLLOWING:
  (A) THE HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS  NATIVE  AMERICAN  NATIONS  AND  TRIBES
LOCATED  WITHIN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE STATE IN
WHICH SUCH NATIONS ESTABLISHED SETTLEMENTS;
  (B) THE CULTURE AND OTHER RELEVANT ASPECTS OF  THE  HERITAGE  OF  EACH
SUCH NATIVE AMERICAN NATION OR TRIBE;
  (C)  SIGNIFICANT  ACTIONS, EVENTS, DOCUMENTS, CONTRIBUTIONS AND PROMI-
NENT INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH SUCH  NATIVE  AMERICAN  NATION  OR
TRIBE; AND
  (D) THE CURRENT CONDITION OF EACH SUCH NATIVE AMERICAN NATION OR TRIBE
IN  TERMS OF ITS LOCATION WITHIN THE STATE, MEMBERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE STATE.
  3. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ADOPT RULES AND  REGULATIONS  PROVIDING  FOR
ATTENDANCE  UPON  SUCH INSTRUCTION AND FOR OTHER MATTERS AS ARE REQUIRED
FOR CARRYING INTO EFFECT THE OBJECTS AND PURPOSES OF THIS  SECTION.  THE
COMMISSIONER  SHALL  BE  RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS SECTION
AND SHALL CAUSE TO BE INSPECTED AND SUPERVISED  THE  INSTRUCTION  TO  BE
GIVEN IN THE SUBJECTS DESCRIBED HEREIN.
  4.  TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND TRUSTEES OF
THE SEVERAL CITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF THE  STATE  AND  THE  PRIVATE
SCHOOLS OF THE STATE SHALL INCLUDE, AS PART OF THE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION
REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION, AN EMPHASIS ON THE NATIVE AMERICAN NATIONS AND
TRIBES,  HERITAGE,  EVENTS  AND  ACTIONS WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC REGION IN
WHICH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR PRIVATE SCHOOL IS LOCATED.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.