What's happening
This bill requires the education commissioner to recommend, and the board of regents to consider, adding instruction on blood, bone marrow, organ, and tissue donation to senior high school curricula.
Why it matters
Broad stakeholder input is required. The commissioner must consult not only educational experts and school staff, but also parents, students, and the broader community, ensuring any curriculum changes reflect diverse perspectives and address potential concerns.
Potential impact on school time and resources. The bill mandates analysis of how adding donation education could affect existing instructional time and whether it would compete with other required subjects, as well as any financial implications for the state and school districts.
Structured decision and accountability process. The commissioner’s recommendation (to adopt or reject the curriculum) triggers a formal board of regents vote within 60 days, and if rejected, a public report explaining why must be delivered to top state officials—promoting transparency and oversight.
Could influence student attitudes and health outcomes. By integrating education on blood, bone marrow, organ, and tissue donation into high school, the bill aims to raise awareness among young people, potentially increasing future donor registrations and saving lives.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach About Organ Donation
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
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.
Teach Organ Donation in Schools
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Leroy Comrie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3575
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, MOSLEY, COLTON, THIELE, CAHILL, BLAKE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, CRESPO, ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the commissioner of education to make recommendations to the board of regents relating to the adoption of instruction in information relating to blood, bone marrow and organ and tissue donations in senior high schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 57 to read as follows:
57. a. The commissioner shall make recommendations to the board of regents relating to the adoption of instruction in information relating to blood, bone marrow and organ and tissue donations and the ways in which such donations can be beneficial to others, in senior high schools.
b. Prior to making the recommendations to the board of regents, the commissioner shall:
(i) seek the recommendations of teachers, school administrators, teacher educators and others with educational expertise in the proposed curriculum;
(ii) seek comment from parents, students and other interested parties;
(iii) consider the amount of instructional time such curriculum will require and whether such time would detract from other mandated courses of study;
(iv) consider the fiscal impact, if any, on the state and school districts; and
(v) consider any additional factors the commissioner deems relevant.
c. No later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this subdivision, the commissioner shall provide a recommendation to the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08252-01-9
A. 3575 2
board of regents to either adopt and promulgate appropriate rules and regulations implementing such curriculum or reject the implementation of such curriculum. Upon receiving a recommendation from the commissioner, pursuant to this subdivision, the board of regents shall vote to either accept or reject the commissioner's recommendation no later than sixty days after receiving such recommendation.
d. If the board of regents adopts such curriculum, the curriculum requirement shall take effect no later than the next school year after such curriculum has been adopted.
e. If the board of regents rejects such curriculum, the commissioner shall provide a report to the determination of the board to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and the chairs of the senate and assembly committees on education providing the reasons for such rejection not later than thirty days after the board of regents rejects such curriculum.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.