BILL NUMBER: S1160
SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing Diwali as
a statewide school holiday
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISION:
Section one amends subdivision 8 of section 3604 of the education law to
add Diwali as a school holiday for all public schools.
Section two establishes an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the Hindu festival of lights. The
largest holiday for the Indian community, it symbolizes the spiritual
victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over igno-
rance.
Recently, a bill was signed into law that added Diwali as a public
school holiday in New York City. This bill, by making Diwali a pub is
school holiday outside of NYC, builds on this recognition of the impor-
tance of this most joyous and celebrated of Indian holidays.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.9933 of 2023-24
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1160: 3604 education law, 3604(8) education law, 2586-a education law, 3635 education law, 3635(2-a) education law