What's happening
This bill designates St. Patrick's Day as a school holiday for New York City public schools and protects related state funding.
Why it matters
Specifically targets New York City. The bill only applies to public schools in cities with over one million residents, effectively meaning only New York City public schools will observe St. Patrick's Day as a holiday, not schools across the entire state.
Mandates school closures. School authorities in NYC are not just allowed but required to close all public schools on St. Patrick’s Day, making it a guaranteed day off rather than a discretionary observance.
Protects school funding. By ensuring St. Patrick’s Day is still counted as a session day for state aid calculations, the bill prevents NYC schools from losing any state funding as a result of being closed for this new holiday.
Recognizes cultural significance. This change formally acknowledges St. Patrick’s Day as an important cultural and community event, elevating its status in school calendars alongside other recognized holidays.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make St. Patrick's Day School Holiday
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to new york city education
- Committee discharged and committed to new york city 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.
Make St. Patrick's Day School Holiday
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Stacey Pheffer Amato
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4167
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 4, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- 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 establishing the St. Patrick's Day school holiday
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 3204-a to read as follows:
§ 3204-a. St. Patrick's Day school holiday. 1. The 17th day of March, commonly known as St. Patrick's day, shall be a school holiday for all public schools in a qualified school district.
2. A qualified school district, for purposes of this section, shall mean a city school district of a city having a population of one million or more inhabitants.
3. The school authorities of a qualified school district are hereby authorized and directed to cause all public schools within such district to be closed on St. Patrick's day.
§ 2. Section 3604 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7-c to read as follows:
7-c. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of any calculation under subdivision seven or eight of this section, the commissioner shall disregard any reduction resulting from observance of St. Patrick's day and, if necessary, such observed holiday shall be calculated as a session day.
§ 3. 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 rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03718-01-9
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 establishing the St. Patrick's Day school holiday
Purpose or general idea of bill
Establishes St. Patrick's day as a school holiday for all city school districts of one million or more with an Irish-American population of 7.5% or more
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends the Education Law by adding a new section 3204a, which provides for a school holiday for St. Patrick's Day in a city school district having a population of one million or more inhabit- ants.
Section 2 of this bill adds a new subdivision 7-c to section 3604 of the Education Law, which states that the Education Commissioner shall disre- gard any reduction in attendance resulting from observance of St. Patrick's Day and may be counted as a session day if necessary.
Section 3 provides that this act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided that any and all rules and regulations and any other measures necessary to implement any provisions of this act on its effective date may be promulgated and taken, respectively, on or before such effective date.
Justification
St. Patrick's Day is the oldest cultural celebration in the Irish-Ameri- can community. It is a traditional time of reunion and celebration with family and friends, as well as a holy day of obligation for Irish Catholics. However, public schools do not close for that day and educa- tion authorities have even gone so far as to use the evening of this day for parent-teacher conferences. This places an unfair burden on school children, parents, and teachers within the Irish-American community. It is impractical to keep public schools open in Irish-American communities when there is a significant number of students and instructors who take the day off.
In 2014, the Governor approved legislation (Chapter 491) directing school districts to determine whether school session should be held on a day where a religious or cultural holiday would lead to a waste of educational resources due to significant absenteeism. Considering that a large Irish-American population in New York City is impacted by St. Patrick's Day, schools should be closed for the observance Of this holi- day, or if school is in session, a child's inability to attend school on this holiday should be disregarded.
Prior legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.