New York S 553: Relates to observance of all religious holidays by institutions within the state university and the city university of New York, and includes the Asian Lunar New Year within the definition of such holidays

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S00553 Summary:

BILL NOS00553 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A00285

&nbsp

SPONSORLIU

&nbsp

COSPNSRCOONEY, FAHY, JACKSON, KAVANAGH, WEBB

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §6235, amd §224-a, Ed L

&nbsp

Relates to observance of all religious holidays by institutions within the state university and the city university of New York; includes the Asian Lunar New Year within the definition of such holidays.

Go to top S00553 Actions:

BILL NOS00553 

&nbsp

01/08/2025REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

02/03/20251ST REPORT CAL.224

02/04/20252ND REPORT CAL.

02/05/2025ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

02/26/2025PASSED SENATE

02/26/2025DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

02/26/2025referred to higher education

01/07/2026died in assembly

01/07/2026returned to senate

01/07/2026REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

03/10/20261ST REPORT CAL.516

03/11/20262ND REPORT CAL.

03/12/2026ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

03/17/2026PASSED SENATE

03/17/2026DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

03/17/2026referred to higher education

Go to topS00553 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS00553 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS00553 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 553

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. LIU, COONEY, JACKSON, KAVANAGH, WEBB -- read twice
 and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
 on Higher Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the observance of all
 religious holidays by institutions within the state university and the
 city university of New York, and including the Asian Lunar New Year
 within the definition of such holidays

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 224-a of the education law is amended by adding a
 2 new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
 3 8. Notwithstanding the definition of "religious belief" as defined in
 4 subdivision seven of this section, any student that celebrates the
 5 cultural observance of the Asian Lunar New Year shall be excused for
 6 that cultural observance in the same manner as students excused due to
 7 such students' religious beliefs pursuant to this section.
 8 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6235 to read
 9 as follows:
 10 § 6235. Students unable because of religious beliefs to register or
 11 attend classes on certain days. 1. No person shall be expelled from or
 12 be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education
 13 for the reason that such person is unable, because of such person's
 14 religious beliefs, to register or attend classes or to participate in
 15 any examination, study or work requirements on a particular day or days.
 16 2. Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable,
 17 because of such student's religious beliefs, to attend classes on a
 18 particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular
 19 day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work
 20 requirements.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD01196-01-5

 S. 553 2

 1 3. It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the adminis-
 2 trative officials of each institution of higher education to make avail-
 3 able to each student who is absent from school, because of such
 4 student's religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to register for
 5 classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which
 6 such student may have missed because of such absence on any particular
 7 day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for
 8 making available to the said student such equivalent opportunity.
 9 4. If registration, classes, examinations, study or work requirements
 10 are held on Friday after four o'clock post meridian or on Saturday,
 11 similar or makeup classes, examinations, study or work requirements or
 12 opportunity to register shall be made available on other days, where it
 13 is possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged
 14 to the student for these classes, examinations, study or work require-
 15 ments or registration held