What's happening
This bill designates an annual Earth Day for public schools in New York and encourages environmental education.
Why it matters
Shifts focus from "Conservation Day" to "Earth Day," broadening the observance to include a wider range of environmental topics, not just trees, fish, and wildlife. This reflects current concerns about climate change, pollution, and sustainability, potentially making environmental education more relevant and up-to-date.
Gives public schools flexibility in how they observe Earth Day and teach about the environment. Instead of prescribing specific exercises or activities, local school authorities can tailor their approach to fit their students and communities, possibly leading to more meaningful engagement.
Encourages—but does not require—environmental instruction, which may lead to varied implementation across districts. The language is less directive than previous law, so while all schools must observe Earth Day, the depth and quality of educational activities could depend on local priorities and resources.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Make Earth Day Official
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- 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.
Create Official Earth Day
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Carl L. Marcellino
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3988
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. NOLAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing Earth day
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 810 of the education law, as amended by chapter 616 of the laws of 1969 and subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 96 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
§ 810. [Conservation] Earth day. [1. The last Friday in April each year is hereby made and declared to be known as Conservation day, and observed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, except that for the year nineteen hundred seventy-eight, Conservation day shall be May third.
2. It shall be the duty of the authorities of every public school in this state to assemble the pupils in their charge on that day in the school building, or elsewhere, as they may deem proper, and to provide for and conduct (1) such exercises as shall tend to encourage the planting, protection and preservation of trees and shrubs, and an acquaintance with the best methods to be adopted to accomplish such results, and (2) such lectures, pictures or tours, as shall tend to increase the interest and knowledge of such pupils in the fish and wild life, soil and water of the state.
3. The commissioner of education may prescribe from time to time a course of exercises and instruction in the subjects hereinbefore mentioned, which shall be adopted and observed by the public school authorities on Conservation day. Upon receipt of copies of such course sufficient in number to supply all the schools under their supervision, the school authorities aforesaid shall promptly provide each of the schools under their charge with a copy, and cause it to be observed] Annually, it shall be the duty of the authorities of every public school in this state to observe Earth day as they may deem proper and to encourage instruction on the earth's natural environment as appropriate.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05345-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.