What's happening
The bill requires New York City public schools to provide food options that meet religious dietary restrictions if requested or if at least 25% of students require them.
Why it matters
Promotes religious inclusivity and respect. By requiring schools to accommodate religious dietary needs, the bill ensures students from diverse faith backgrounds (such as kosher, halal, or vegetarian for religious reasons) are not excluded or forced to compromise their beliefs.
Reduces barriers to school meal participation. Students who previously could not eat school-provided meals due to religious restrictions will have equitable access to nutritious food, supporting their health and academic performance.
Sets a flexible threshold for action. The bill balances practicality and inclusiveness by requiring universal options only when 25% or more of students need them, but still mandates individual accommodations upon request in other cases—ensuring no student is left out regardless of school demographics.
May require operational and budget adjustments. Schools will need to adjust food procurement, kitchen practices, and staff training, potentially increasing costs and complexity, but also fostering greater cultural competency and responsiveness in public institutions.
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Require Religious School Food Options
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Print number 6335a
- Amend (t) and recommit 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.
Require Religious Food Options
In Senate Committee · New York City Education · Sponsor Andrew Gounardes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6335--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 6, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring certain public schools in any city with a population over one million to offer food options which meet dietary restrictions of certain students
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 915-a to read as follows:
§ 915-a. Food options. 1. In any city having over one million inhabitants, any public school that has twenty-five percent or more of students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary restrictions shall offer food options which meet such dietary restrictions at each meal offered.
2. Any public school in a city with a population of one million or more with fewer than twenty-five percent of students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary restrictions shall offer food options at each meal that meet such dietary restrictions upon any student's request and in sufficient amounts to meet the needs of any such students, but shall not otherwise be required to offer such food options.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07698-05-9
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.