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History
- 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.
Establishes the Diwali school holiday
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Michael G. Miller
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S7002
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the Diwali school holiday
Purpose
To allow schools with a large number of celebrants of the festival of Diwali to have an official school holiday.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds new section 3204-a to the Education Law, requiring schools in a city with a population of one million or more inhabitants and an Asian population of 7.5% to close schools for Lakshmi Puja, the third day of the Hindu Festival of Lights (Diwali). If population data for the percentage of South-Asian residents is available, cities with more than 3% of such individuals would be necessary to close schools. The Board of Education or Trustees shall determine which schools will close for the holiday.
Section 2 adds new subdivision 7-c to section 3604 of the Education Law, allowing the commissioner to count any such school holidays as a school session day.
Justification
New York is home to a wide variety of religions and ethnicities, each with their own set of holidays and festivals. When such holidays and festivals fall on school days, many teachers, and parents are required to choose between a school absence or not celebrating important cultural or religious observances. New York is home to many residents of South-Asian descent. Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the third day of the five-day festival of Diwali and is considered the most significant part of the festival. It is observed by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jainists. Allowing such a school holiday demonstrates the importance of New York's cultural diversity and the significance of its South-Asian community. This recognition is already afforded to other ethnic and religious groups in New York.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become law; provided that any and all rules and regulations and any other measures necessary to implement any provision of this act on its effective date may be promulgated and taken, respectively, on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.