What's happening
This bill updates the definition of "military service" in education law to include the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Why it matters
Expands eligibility for education-related benefits and protections. By including the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the definition of "military service," cadets from this academy may now qualify for rights, privileges, or benefits previously limited to other federal service academies under New York education law.
Addresses parity among federal service academies. This amendment ensures that Merchant Marine Academy cadets are recognized alongside those from the Military, Naval, Air Force, and Coast Guard academies, correcting a previous oversight and providing equal treatment.
Potentially impacts voting, tuition, and leave policies. The change could affect issues such as absentee voting for students, tuition assistance, or leaves of absence for academy attendees, making sure Merchant Marine Academy cadets are covered by the same state provisions as their peers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Include Merchant Marine Academy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.300
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.187
- Substituted for A9076
- Referred to education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.305
Show 1 earlier action
- 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.
Include Merchant Marine Academy
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7152
IN SENATE
January 9, 2020
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- 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 redefining military service
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 2018-d of the education law, as added by chapter 489 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
(a) "Military service" means the military service of the state, or of the United States, including the army, navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard, merchant marine and all components thereof, and the coast and geodetic survey, the public health service, the national guard when in the service of the United States pursuant to call as provided by law, and the cadets or midshipmen of the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy and United States Coast Guard Academy.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14601-01-9
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 redefining military service
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation redefines military service to include the United States Merchant Marine Academy, for the purposes of military voting in school elections
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 2018d of the education law, as added by chapter 489 of the laws of 2019, to include the United States Merchant Marine Academy under the defi- nition of "military service."
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
In 2019, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law legis- lation to provide military voters the opportunity to vote in school elections (Chapter 489 of the laws of 2019). Registering as a military voter in New York State entitles persons serving in the military, including spouses and dependents, to receive an absentee ballot for all federal, state, and local elections. Chapter 489 of the laws of 2019 extended such provisions to ballots for school elections, such as the election of members of the board of education and school district, public library trustees, and the adoption of the annual budget.
Under Chapter 489 of the laws of 2019, the definition of "military service" as it relates to military voting in school elections, includes, among others, the cadets or midshipmen of the United States Military Academy, Unites States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy. However, this represents only four of the five total Federal Academies, and excludes the fifth and smallest Federal Academy, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, located in Kings Point, New York. To ensure the provisions of military voting in school elections are extended to all five Federal Academies, this legislation amends the definition of "military service" to include the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.