Requires a course of instruction in the awareness of hate crimes

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 Amends the Education Law by adding a new section 815. Requires a course of instruction in the awareness of hate crimes. The Commissioner would be directed to provide and proscribe a course of instruction designed to increase awareness of hate crimes. Defines hate crimes as those offenses which are committed based upon the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of the victim. Instruction will include examples of symbols and objects associated with hate crimes and the events and historical significance surrounding such symbols and objects. The instruction will also focus on the moral aspects and legal implications of such offenses and promote attitudes of tolerance and acceptance. Requires the board of education, trustees, principal or other person in charge of every private, public and parochial school in the state to arrange for giving such course of instruction in every school under its or his or her control or direction. Requires that such instruction shall be given to all pupils in every school for a period of not less than forty-five minutes in each month during which such school is in session.

Section 2 Effective Date

Existing law

None

Justification

The recent prevalence of public hate crimes, including the hanging of nooses, displays of swastikas, and cross burnings, has increased awareness of continuing racial hatred in our nation. The cases involving the "Jena 6" in Louisiana, where a noose was hung on an oak tree outside a local high school, the hanging of a noose on the door of Madonna Constantine, an African-American professor at Columbia University, an assault at Gallaudet University where a student was held down against his will and had swastikas and KKK drawn on his body, and most recently, the burning of a cross on the property of a black family in upstate New York, draw attention to a disturbing trend that is occuning in America. While these are just a small sampling of hate crimes, the FBI in a November 2007 report found that hate crimes in America have increased by 8 percent over the last year. Police across the country have reported

that criminal incidents targeting victims or property as a result of bias against a particular race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin or physical or mental disability rose from 7,163 to 7,722 from 2007 to 2008. These numbers prove that we need to pay greater attention to an alarming trend that is contrary to the core values of America.

In response, this legislation would require the State to offer a valuable course to increase awareness of hate crimes to every child in New York State. It is important that schools teach core values of tolerance, acceptance and understanding to its students in order to prevent hate crimes. Educating children about the vile nature of hate crimes will directly combat negative language and stereotypes that are prevalent in our culture and the media. By educating our youth of the implications and consequences of hate crimes, the children of New York will better understand the differences in each citizen that make our state unique.

Prior legislative history

2011: S.269 - Defeated in Education/A.4586 - Referred to Education 2009-10: S.1985 - Referred to Education/A.3261 - Referred to Education 2008: A.9591 - Referred to Education

Fiscal implications

Undetermined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.