What's happening
This bill requires New York schools to teach students in grades 6-12 about the swastika and noose as symbols of hate.
Why it matters
Addresses ignorance as a root cause of hate incidents. By mandating education on these symbols, the bill aims to prevent hate-based actions that stem from a lack of understanding about their historical and cultural significance.
Places accountability on education leaders. The Regents and Commissioner of Education are specifically tasked with determining how this content is incorporated, ensuring that curriculum updates are thoughtfully designed and implemented rather than left vague or optional.
Aims to foster empathy and societal resilience. Teaching about the swastika and noose as symbols of hate is intended to cultivate greater tolerance and inclusivity among young people, potentially reducing bias-motivated bullying and hate crimes over the long term.
Sets a statewide precedent. By requiring all schools to provide this instruction, New York could influence other states to adopt similar measures, shaping national discussions about confronting symbols of hate in educational settings.
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Headline styles
Teach Hate Symbols in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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 Hate Symbols in Schools
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Todd Kaminsky
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8545
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
August 23, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring instruction regarding symbols of hate
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds the recent spike in hate crimes across our state and nation as a whole to be highly disturbing and a societal epidemic in need of remedy. As many of our youth are not aware of the hateful connotations behind swastikas and nooses, it is necessary for the legislature to mandate compulsory education in all schools across our great state in regard to the meanings of these two symbols of hate. Requiring students be educated in the significance of these displays of bigotry will go a long way toward fostering a more inclusive and tolerant society for all.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 801-b to read as follows:
§ 801-b. Instruction regarding symbols of hate. The regents shall ensure that the course of instruction for grades six through twelve includes a component on the meaning of the swastika as the emblem of Nazi Germany, as well as the noose as a symbol of racism and intimidation. The regents shall determine how to incorporate such components into existing curricula, and the commissioner shall promulgate any regulations needed to carry out such determination of the regents.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13613-01-9
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.