BILL NUMBER: S1424
SPONSOR: LIU
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting discrimi-
nation of students on school property or at a school function based on
religious attire, clothing or facial hair
 
PURPOSE:
The intent of this legislation is to further protect the religious
rights of all New Yorker's, especially our youth. New York State is a
multicultural state made up of many religious denominations, and we must
make every effort to pursue equal representation.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 12 of the education law to add the wearing of
attire, clothing, or facial hair in accordance with the requirements of
his or her religion to the list a student shall be protected from
discrimination against on school property or at a school function.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation was inspired by the recent story about Noor Alexandria
Abukaram who ran a personal-best time in a cross-country meet. In 2019,
the 16-year-old Ohio high school student found out her race didn't count
after its completion. Abukaram was disqualified from her team's meet for
wearing a hijab while in the competition.
Similarly, the same year in New York, a Buffalo student was questioned
by an assistant principal about wearing a hijab in school, and was asked
to provide proof of her faith to continue wearing it. A few years earli-
er in 2017, a substitute teacher ordered a second-grade Bronx student to
remove her hijab. When she did not comply, he ripped it from her head.
Currently, NYS statute already prohibits discrimination of students
based on "religion" or "religious practice" on school property or at
school functions in section 12 of the Education Law, which would include
sporting events (the definition of "school function" is in section 11).
While religious attire, clothing and facial hair would likely be consid-
ered a religious practice, this bill would make clear that no student
should be subjected to any such discrimination, protecting students from
the situations described above.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
03/27/24 PASSED SENATE
03/31/23 PASSED SENATE
06/03/22: S8637A committed to Rules
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1424: 12 education law, 12(1) education law