BILL NUMBER: S4544A
SPONSOR: HOYLMAN-SIGAL
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Jack
Reid Law: Protect All Students Act"
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would protect all elementary, middle school and high school
students in New York from harassment and bullying by extending many of
the protections of the Dignity for All Students Act to nonpublic
schools.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill titles the bill the "Jack Reid Law: Protect All
Students Act". Section two of the bill creates a new Article 2A of the
education law entitled the "Nonpublic Dignity for All Students Act."
Section three of the bill is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Tragedies involving the harassment and bullying of students are not
limited to public schools, but the protections of the Dignity for All
Students Act are. Sadly, students at private schools, including reli-
gious schools, can and have been bullied to the point of such despair
that they commit suicide. While such schools may choose to adopt poli-
cies designed to prevent harassment and bullying, they are not required
to do so. This bill would apply many of Dignity's protections to all
students in all schools in New York, whether public or private.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S. 3180 of 2023-2024 (Hoylman-Sigal): Advanced to Third Reading / A.
1829 (Jean-Pierre): Died in Codes
S.0722 of 2021-2022 (Hoylman): Died in Education
A. 7399 of 2021-2022 (Jean-Pierre): Died in Education
S.3696 of 2019-2020 (Hoylman): Died in Education
S.6438 of 2017-2018 (Hoylman): Died in Education
A.7738A of 2017-2018 (O'Donnell): Died in Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state or local governments.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.