Authorizes and directs the commissioner of education to conduct a study regarding ecological literacy and healthy living curriculum in schools, and to provide recommendations in a report.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1706
SPONSOR: Rosenthal TITLE OF BILL:
An act authorizing and directing the commissioner of education to
conduct a study regarding ecological literacy and healthy living curric-
ulum in schools, and to provide recommendations
PURPOSE:
Ecological literacy is vital to preserving our world, and more specif-
ically the vast natural resources that New York State has. This bills
aims to evaluate the current programs that schools across the state have
on ecological literacy and healthy living, this way getting a better
understanding to the best way to implement a uniform curriculum.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 authorizes and directs the commissioner of education to
conduct a study regarding ecological literacy and healthy living curric-
ulum within the state.
Section 2 mandates that the commissioner submit a report on the study to
the governor and the legislature within one year after the effective
date of this act.
Section 3 establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Across the state some of our schools have taken different initiatives to
incorporate ecological literacy and healthy living into their curric-
ulums. With climate change looming in our future, we need to educate the
next generation of New Yorkers in ways that will help them address a
variety of environmental challenges while protecting our natural
resources to ensure quality of life for all.
Our government agencies, public and private organizations, and our
academic institutions all work towards creating a vibrant and econom-
ically sustainable New York so that future generations may enjoy the
same high quality of life as generations before. To achieve this, it is
important that we make sustainability one of our overarching educational
frameworks. This bill aims to evaluate the different programs that
schools have in place individually so that an overall program can be
added to the curriculum statewide.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A.593 - Referred to Education; S.1779 - Referred to Education
2021-22: A.2104 - Referred to Education; S.3399 - Referred to Education
2019-20: A.1242 - Referred to Education; S.2578 - Advanced to Third
Reading
2017-18: A.11131- Referred to Education; S.8690 - Passed Senate
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1706
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education
AN ACT authorizing and directing the commissioner of education to
conduct a study regarding ecological literacy and healthy living
curriculum in schools, and to provide recommendations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of education is authorized and directed to
2 conduct a study regarding ecological literacy and healthy living curric-
3 ulum within the state. For purposes of this act, the term "qualified
4 institution" shall mean every public and private school in New York
5 state that instructs any students in grades kindergarten through twelve.
6 Such study shall focus on the availability of such curriculum at all
7 qualified institutions, and shall include but not be limited to:
8 1. a description of all offered ecological literacy and healthy living
9 related classes;
10 2. the academic year ecological literacy and healthy living instruc-
11 tion becomes available at each qualifying institution and a description
12 of its specific form;
13 3. the existence of any specific ecological literacy and healthy
14 living program at each qualifying institution and what such program
15 includes; and
16 4. all ecological literacy and healthy living extracurricular activ-
17 ities offered.
18 § 2. A report of the findings of such study and recommendations of the
19 commissioner of education shall be delivered to the governor, the tempo-
20 rary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority
21 leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly within one
22 year of the effective date of this act.
23 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04258-01-5
