Bill Text: NY A02858 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Establishes the "Purple Star School Program" to assist military-connected students and to recognize the value of military service and civic responsibility.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 17-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to education [A02858 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A02858-Introduced.html

---

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          2858

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    January 27, 2023
                                       ___________

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

        AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
          "Purple  Star School Program" to emphasize the importance of assisting
          military-connected students and to recognize  the  value  of  military
          service and civic responsibility

          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 and maybe cited as the "Purple Star
     2  School Program Act".
     3    § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 66-A to read
     4  as follows:
     5                                ARTICLE 66-A
     6                         PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM
     7  Section 3330. Purple star school program.
     8    § 3330. Purple star school program. 1. The commissioner, in  consulta-
     9  tion  with  the  state  council  created  pursuant to subdivision one of
    10  section thirty-three hundred eight of this title,  shall  establish  the
    11  "Purple  Star  School Program" to recognize schools and school districts
    12  which demonstrate a commitment to assisting military-connected  students
    13  and their families.
    14    2.  As  used  in  this  section,  "military-connected student" means a
    15  school-aged child enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade in  the
    16  household  of  an active duty military member as that term is defined in
    17  subdivision one of section thirty-three hundred two of this title.
    18    3. The commissioner, or his or her designee, shall designate a  school
    19  as  a  "Purple  Star  School"  upon  application  of  a school or school
    20  district which (a) has designated a staff member as a  military  liaison
    21  whose   duties   include  (i)  identifying  military-connected  students
    22  enrolled in the district and serving as the point of contact between the
    23  school and such students; (ii) determining appropriate  campus  services

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD04149-01-3
        A. 2858                             2

     1  available to military-connected students; and (iii) assisting in coordi-
     2  nating campus programs relevant to military-connected students;
     3    (b)  maintains  on its website an easily accessible page that includes
     4  resources for military-connected students and their families,  including
     5  information  regarding:  (i)  relocation to, enrollment at, registration
     6  at, and transferring records to  the  campus;  (ii)  academic  planning,
     7  course  sequences,  and  advanced classes available at the campus; (iii)
     8  counseling and other support services available  for  military-connected
     9  students  enrolled  at  the campus; and (iv) the military liaison desig-
    10  nated under paragraph (a) of this subdivision, and the liaison's  duties
    11  under such paragraph;
    12    (c) maintains a transition program led by students, where appropriate,
    13  that  assists  military-connected  students  in  transitioning  into the
    14  campus;
    15    (d) offers  professional  development  for  staff  members  on  issues
    16  related to military-connected students; and
    17    (e) the board of education or other person or entity authorized to act
    18  on  behalf  of  the  school  or  school district has either (i) issued a
    19  resolution, proclamation, or other official  statement  of  support  for
    20  military-connected  students and their families; or (ii) issued a resol-
    21  ution, proclamation, or other official statement recognizing  the  month
    22  of April as the "Month of the Military Child" and/or the month of Novem-
    23  ber as "Military Family Month" and has hosted events on campus celebrat-
    24  ing  either  or  both;  or (iii) entered into a partnership with a local
    25  military installation that provides opportunities for active duty  mili-
    26  tary  members  to  volunteer at the campus, speak at an assembly, host a
    27  field trip, or participate in such other educational activities  as  the
    28  commissioner or his or her designee deem appropriate.
    29    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.