New York S 7168: Relates to African American history and achievement

Bill Text

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S07168 Summary:

BILL NOS07168 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A02184

&nbsp

SPONSORCLEARE

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §819, amd §2590-h, Ed L

&nbsp

Relates to establishing the commission on African American history and achievement to develop and recommend school curriculum that incorporates the contributions and achievements made by African Americans.

Go to top S07168 Actions:

BILL NOS07168 

&nbsp

04/03/2025REFERRED TO EDUCATION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Go to topS07168 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS07168 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS07168 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 7168

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 April 3, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the
 commission on African American history and achievement

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

 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 819 to
 2 read as follows:
 3 § 819. African American history and achievement. 1. The commission on
 4 African American history and achievement; established. (a) The commis-
 5 sion on African American history and achievement, referred to in this
 6 section as the commission, is hereby created and established. The
 7 commission shall consist of thirteen members, including the commission-
 8 er, or their designee, the chancellor of New York city schools, or their
 9 designee, the chancellor of the state university of New York, or their
 10 designee, and the chancellor of the board of regents, or their designee,
 11 three members appointed by the governor, three members appointed by the
 12 temporary president of the senate, and three members appointed by the
 13 speaker of the assembly. Appointed members shall include but not be
 14 limited to teachers, including kindergarten through twelve educators,
 15 historians, and those with a background in African American history,
 16 arts, or culture.
 17 (b) Each member shall serve for a term of three years and shall be
 18 eligible for reappointment. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration
 19 of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment
 20 for the unexpired term.
 21 (c) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but
 22 shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred
 23 in the performance of their duties.
 24 (d) The commissioner, or their designee, shall serve as the chair and
 25 the chancellor of New York city schools, or their designee, shall serve

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD01959-01-5

 S. 7168 2

 1 as the vice-chair of the commission. The presence of a majority of the
 2 authorized membership of the commission shall be required for the
 3 conduct of official business.
 4 (e) The department shall provide technical assistance and data to the
 5 commission as may be necessary for the commission to carry out its
 6 responsibilities pursuant to this section.
 7 2. Duties and responsibilities of the commission. (a) The commission
 8 shall be tasked with developing and recommending curriculum that incor-
 9 porates the contributions and achievements made by African Americans as
 10 part of New York's education curriculum, including but not limited to
 11 the women's abolitionist movement, the Harlem Renaissance, the Buffalo
 12 anti-slavery movement, and the suffrage movement for African American
 13 Long Islanders. In furtherance of this goal, the commission shall have
 14 the following duties and responsibilities:
 15 (i) To survey and review current elementary and secondary education
 16 curriculum as it relates to contributions and achievements of African
 17 Americans throughout American and state history;
 18 (ii) To develop recommendations on additional curriculum and instruc-
 19 tion for grades kindergarten through twelve that incorporate the
 20 contributions and achievements made by African Americans throughout
 21 American and New