BILL NUMBER: S9600
SPONSOR: CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting state
funding of any college if such institution's instructional staff advo-
cates or engages in activities on campus in support of a terrorist
organization
 
PURPOSE:
To ensure state funding is not directly or indirectly supporting the
promotion of terrorist organizations.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the Education Law to provide that all colleges,
universities, and other institutions for higher education authorized to
confer degrees shall have a duty to take appropriate corrective steps if
a member of instructional staff directly or indirectly promotes, encour-
ages, advocates or engages in any activity on campus in support of a
terrorist organization as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1189. If appropriate
corrective steps are not taken in a time and manner as determined by the
New York State Education Department, such college, university, or other
institution for higher education shall not be eligible to receive state
funding.
Section 2: Provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Anti-Defamation League recently published a "Campus Antisemitic
Report Card," which painted a bleak picture of antisemitism on New
York's campuses-nearly half the schools graded received either a D or an
F, and none received an A. One of the incidents described in the report
card included a professor saying at a campus rally that he was "exhil-
arated" by the horrific October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas
against Israel. Many Jewish students do not feel safe on their campus as
protests have quickly devolved to including antisemitic rhetoric and
threats of violence, and in some cases, students have been advised to
avoid campus altogether.
Clearly, many colleges and universities are not taking sufficient action
to maintain safety on campuses, especially for Jewish students. It is
especially alarming when those who are entrusted to educate young
students are expressing support for terrorist organizations. Schools
have an obligation to ensure the safety of all their students, and New
York State should not be providing public dollars that directly or indi-
rectly support institutions that do not take appropriate corrective
steps to address educators who are promoting the actions of terrorists.
This legislation would ensure that schools take appropriate corrective
steps when a member of a college's instructional staff directly or indi-
rectly promotes, encourages, advocates or engages in any activity on
campus in support of a terrorist organization as defined by 8 U.S.C. §
1189, or else lose state funding.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.