What's happening
This bill allows students to be excused from school to play "Taps" at military honors funerals without penalty.
Why it matters
Supports student participation in military honors. By excusing absences for playing "Taps" at veterans' funerals, the bill encourages young musicians to honor military service, contributing to important civic and community rituals.
Protects academic standing and attendance records. Students who meet the notice and documentation requirements will not be penalized or marked truant, and their attendance counts toward the school’s average daily attendance, which can affect funding and reporting.
Ensures academic fairness. Schools must allow students reasonable time to make up any missed work, and if completed satisfactorily, the absence is treated as if the student was present, preventing negative academic consequences for participating in these services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Excuse School for Sounding Taps
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
63
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ROBACH -- 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 compulsory education and being excused for certain reasons
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 3205 of the education law is amended by adding a new paragraph d to read as follows:
d. A minor from six to sixteen years absent from full time day instruction for the purpose of sounding "Taps" at a military honors funeral held in this state for a deceased veteran. In order to be excused under this section, the student shall notify the school's administration within two days prior to the date of absence and shall provide the school administration with the date, time, and location of the military honors funeral. The school's administration may waive this two-day requirement if the student did not receive two days advanced notice, but the student must provide notice as soon as possible of the absence. A student whose absence is excused under this section shall be counted as if the student attended school for the purposes of calculating the average daily attendance of the students in the school district. A student whose absence is excused under this section must be allowed reasonable time to make up school work missed during the absence. If the student satisfactorily completes the school work, the day of absence shall be counted as a day of compulsory attendance and he or she may not be penalized for that absence.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July 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.
LBD05159-01-9
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 compulsory education and being excused for certain reasons
Purpose
To amend the education law, in relation to compulsory education and being excused for Taps funeral services for our state veterans.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends section 3205 of the education law by adding a new paragraph d.
Section 2: effective date
Justification
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, there have been more than 550,000 deaths of veterans in the United States in 2016. Demand for buglers and trumpet players to play Taps at some of the funeral services is high, and often, an audio recording of the tune is used. This bill would enable and encourage high school student partic- ipation in Taps services so that we can better ensure our state's veter- ans get the recognition and honor they deserve.
Legislative history
2017: Referred to Education 2018: Referred to Education
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.