Bill Text: NY S07750 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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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: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION [S07750 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S07750-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          7750

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                    November 15, 2023
                                       ___________

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

        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 may be  cited  as  the  "Purple
     2  Star 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, a
    18  school-aged child enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade in  the
    19  household  of a member of the military reserves, or national guard, or a
    20  school-aged child in the household of a recently  discharged  member  of
    21  the  military  who  is  enrolling  in kindergarten through twelfth grade
    22  within the state for the first time.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD04149-03-3
        S. 7750                             2

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