What's happening
This bill requires all New York public high schools to recognize students who voluntarily complete at least ten hours of community service per semester.
Why it matters
Encourages civic engagement. By formally recognizing voluntary community service, the bill incentivizes students to participate in their communities, fostering civic responsibility and social awareness among youth.
Promotes equity in recognition. The requirement that all public high schools create a policy standardizes recognition across the state, helping ensure that students in different districts have equal opportunities to be acknowledged for their service.
Supports college and career readiness. Official recognition of community service can strengthen students’ applications for college, scholarships, and jobs, highlighting their commitment to service and extracurricular involvement.
Requires local action. School boards must actively develop and implement their own recognition policies, which could lead to diverse approaches and added opportunities for student leadership and input at the local level.
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
Reward Student Community Service
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3846
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 27, 2017
Introduced by Sen. FUNKE -- 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 requiring all public high schools to recognize students who voluntarily participate in community service
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 817 to read as follows:
§ 817. Community service. All public high schools shall, through their local school boards, create a policy to recognize students who voluntarily participate in at least ten hours of community service per semester.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07550-02-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring all public high schools to recognize students who voluntarily participate in community service
Purpose
Requires all public high schools to create a policy to recognize students who voluntarily participate in community service
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the education law by adding a new section 817
Section two contains the effective date
Justification
Recognizing and encouraging students who volunteer in their communities is important not only in creating well rounded students but also because it enhances local service projects. All School Districts should develop a program to recognize those students who go above and beyond in serving their communities. This is not meant to be for students who simply fulfill a requirement, it is meant to set a higher bar. In this "me" culture, it is vital that those who do good for others are acknowledged for their contributions. Some school districts in New York State already have policies recognizing student volunteerism, but for those who do not, this would require them to decide for themselves exactly how they would like to honor these students' accomplishments and efforts.
Legislative history
New Bill
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.