New York A 8971: Establishes the New York Italian American Heritage Education Equity Act

Bill Text

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A08971 Summary:

BILL NOA08971 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORDurso

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COSPNSRBrown E, Morinello, Brown K, Maher, Norber, DeStefano, McDonough, Brook-Krasny, Jensen, Stern

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §805, Ed L

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Establishes a committee to conduct a survey of instruction on Italian American heritage and issue a report on such survey.

Go to top A08971 Actions:

BILL NOA08971 

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08/13/2025referred to education

01/07/2026referred to education

Go to topA08971 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA08971 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA08971 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 8971

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 August 13, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. DURSO -- read once and referred to the Committee
 on Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a commit-
 tee to conduct a survey of instruction on Italian American heritage
 and issue a report on such survey; and providing for the repeal of
 such provisions upon expiration thereof

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

 1 Section 1. This act shall be known as the "New York Italian American
 2 Heritage Education Equity Act".
 3 § 2. (a) The commissioner of education is authorized and directed to
 4 conduct a survey regarding instruction on Italian American heritage
 5 within the state. Such survey shall focus on identifying the extent to
 6 which school districts provide instruction on Italian American heritage.
 7 Such survey shall include as appropriate, questions on how the district
 8 is providing such instruction, including, but not limited to, the
 9 following:
 10 (1) how the department's learning standards inform the school
 11 district's teaching of Italian American heritage history;
 12 (2) which grade levels are being taught about Italian American herit-
 13 age history;
 14 (3) how much instructional time is devoted to Italian American herit-
 15 age history;
 16 (4) what are the school district's social studies curricula that are
 17 used in the district, and who publishes curricula;
 18 (5) what challenges and/or barriers do districts face in incorporating
 19 Italian American heritage history into the curriculum;
 20 (6) do educators receive any training or professional development
 21 regarding Italian American heritage history; and
 22 (7) are there assessments or evaluations to measure student under-
 23 standing of Italian American heritage history.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD13581-01-5

 A. 8971 2

 1 (b) Findings shall include detailed results of the survey, and if
 2 needed, recommendations to implement or strengthen such instruction. A
 3 report of the findings of such survey shall be delivered to the gover-
 4 nor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly,
 5 the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assem-
 6 bly the first of January following the effective date of this act or one
 7 hundred twenty days after the effective date of this act, whichever is
 8 later.
 9 § 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 805 to read
 10 as follows:
 11 § 805. Italian American heritage history advisory committee; appoint-
 12 ment; powers and duties. 1. The commissioner shall establish an Italian
 13 American heritage advisory committee.
 14 2. (a) The committee shall be comprised of four members, to be
 15 appointed as follows:
 16 i. one member appointed by the governor;
 17 ii. one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
 18 iii. one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and
 19 iv. one member appointed by the commissioner.
 20 (b) All members appointed to the committee shall be experts in Italian
 21 American heritage and/or have a background in educational instruction
 22 and/or educational administration.
 23 (c) All members of the committee shall be appointed within ninety days
 24 of the effective date of this section.
 25 3. Vacancies in the membership of the committee shall be filled in the
 26 same manner provided for original appointments.
 27 4. The c