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S4151Senate2009-2010 SessionSame asA3751

Bans the use of textbooks containing superfluous commercial advertisements

Sponsor Velmanette MontgomerySD-18+1 co-sponsorAffects Education
Status
In Senate Committee
Education
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Education

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Who cares

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Velmanette Montgomery

Senator · Senate District 18

History

  1. Referred to education
  2. Referred to education

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

A3751Assembly

Bans the use of textbooks containing superfluous commercial advertisements

In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Barbara Clark

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to banning the use of commercially biased textbooks by school districts

Purpose of bill

To prohibit school districts from purchasing or using textbooks containing commercial advertising.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 1527-a to the Education Law to provide that after July 1, 2004, no board of education shall approve the purchase or use of textbooks containing commercial brand names, products or company logos. In order to purchase or use textbooks containing such material after such date, the board would have to make a specific finding, in writing, that the mention of such brand names, products or logos was necessary to achieve an educational purpose. Section 2 provides that this act shall take effect immediately.

Existing law

Currently, no such prohibition exists, and school districts are free to purchase or use textbooks containing commercial advertising.

Justification

As noted above, school districts are free to approve the purchase and use of textbooks containing commercial advertising material, and in fact, some have done so, With children already bombarded with commercial advertising in other print material, television, radio, and over the Internet, they should not have to be further exposed to commercial advertising in their school textbooks. Schools should be safe havens from such advertising, and should not lend their credibility, however indirect, to the aims of commercial advertisers.

Legislative history

3/23/00 - Advanced to Third Reading, Cal. 84 Assembly 1/5/00 S.5970 Committed to Senate Education 2/12/02 - A.4222 Reported to Assembly Ways and Means S.2324 - Referred to Senate Education Committee 1/07/04 - A.3582 Referred to Assembly Education Committee 1/04/06 - A.3217 Referred to Assembly Education Committee S.1701 - Referred to Senate Education Committee; 2007-2008: Referred to Education Committee.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.