What's happening
This bill requires public schools in New York City to provide lunch options that accommodate students' religious dietary restrictions upon request.
Why it matters
Addresses Equity and Inclusion. By requiring schools to accommodate religious dietary needs, the bill promotes a more inclusive environment for students of diverse faith backgrounds, reducing the risk of students feeling marginalized or excluded during lunch.
Supports Student Health and Participation. Ensuring students have access to food they can eat means they are less likely to skip meals, which can impact their health, concentration, and academic performance.
Places Responsibility on Schools. The law compels schools to proactively respond to requests for religious dietary accommodations, encouraging better communication between families and school administrators, and ensuring compliance with anti-discrimination principles.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Religious Food Options
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
History
- Referred to new york city education
- Referred to new york city 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 in Schools
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor David Weprin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2446
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on New York City Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring public schools in any city with a population over one million to offer food options during lunch
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. In any city having over one million inhabitants, any public school that has students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary restrictions shall offer food options which meet such dietary restrictions upon the students' request.
§ 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.
LBD08551-01-9
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 public schools in any city with a population over one million to offer food options during lunch
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation will require a public school, in any city that has over one million inhabitants, to offer food options, upon request, to any students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary restriction.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section 915-a which requires a public school, in any city that has over one million inhabitants, to offer food options, upon request, to any students practicing a religious faith with specific dietary restriction.
Section 2 of the bill sets forth an effective date of one hundred and twenty days 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 is authorized to be made one or before such date.
Justification
In city with ethnic diversity like New York City, the population of residents and children who practice a religious faith with specific dietary restrictions is rising. Because of their religious dietary requirements, these students, who are attending public schools in New York City, are restricted in what they can eat during lunch at school. In certain cases, even though public schools already provide healthy and nutritious food options, students have to go without out eating and throw away lunches that do not meet their religious food restrictions. Offering students these types of food options, including halal, kosher, and vegetarian food options, during lunch not only accommodates their dietary restriction but also enhances students' awareness and respect for diversity in cultures, religions, and ethnicities.
Prior legislative history
S 7620 COMRIE Same as A 7231 Weprin
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
One hundred and twenty days after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regu- lations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made one or before such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.