BILL NUMBER: S5334A
SPONSOR: COMRIE
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to allocating the Amistad
commission to work alongside the department of education and on behalf
of students in New York state; and to repeal certain provisions of the
arts and cultural affairs law relating to the Amistad commission
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Allocates the Amistad commission in the department of education, and
repeals certain provision of the arts and cultural affairs law relating
to the Amistad commission.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Article 57-B of the arts and cultural affairs law is
REPEALED.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 25 to read as
follows: ARTICLE 25 - THE AMISTAD COMMISSION
Section 1301. Legislative findings Section 1302. Definitions Section
1303. Commission established.
Section 1304. Commission duties and responsibilities. Section 1305.
Curriculum.
Section 1306. Authorization
§ 3. Section 801 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdi-
vision 3--a
JUSTIFICATION:
In New York, the Amistad Commission is charged with surveying school
curricula to find out how much is included about "the African slave
trade and slavery in America" and to make recommendations for improve-
ment. Currently, schools are required to cover slavery, including the
Underground Railroad and the freedom trail. The State Education Depart-
ment should take the lead as they have the responsibility in examining
the findings of the commission's work and helping develop new curriculum
for districts throughout the state.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022: New A9399
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that section
1305 of the education law, as added by section two of this act, and
subdivision 3--a of section 801 of the education law as added by section
three of this act shall take effect on July 2022.
Statutes affected: S5334: 801 education law
S5334A: 801 education law