New York Senate Bill S00835 Latest Draft

   
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 835 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- 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 "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. LBD02782-01-5 
 S. 835 2 1 3. The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, shall designate a 2 school 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 the commissioner's designee deem appropriate. 35 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.