A10098 Summary:
BILL NO A10098
SAME AS Same as S 6336
SPONSOR Seminerio
COSPNSR Mayersohn, Zebrowski
MLTSPNSR Green, Hikind, Lavelle
Add S224-b, Ed L
Creates an academic bill of rights that ensures an academic environment for both students and faculty members that allows freedom of political viewpoint, expression and instruction; requires institutions of higher education to publish such bill of rights and to adopt a grievance procedure to address complaints of violations of such rights.
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A10098 Actions:
BILL NO A10098
02/28/2006 referred to education
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A10098 Votes:
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A10098 Memo:
BILL NUMBER:A10098
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to creating an academic bill of rights
PURPOSE:
To ensure that students enrolled in institutions of higher education receive exposure to a wide range of scholarly viewpoints, and to recognize the academic rights of faculty members.
Section 224-b (1) — Outlines what a student enrolled at a higher educational institution can expect. Included in this portion of the bill are
provisions stating that a student can expect to be graded solely on the basis of his/her work, student fee money should be distributed in a fair manner, and a student`s freedom of conscience shall not be infringed upon by administrators or student government organizations.
Section 224-b (2) — Outlines what a faculty member has a right to expect. Included in this portion is a provision requiring that faculty
be hired, fired, or promoted on the merits of their work and not on their political or religious beliefs.
Section 224-b (3) — Higher education institutions are required to inform students of their rights and of the institution`s grievance
procedures for violations of academic freedom.
Section 224-b (4) — The governing board of a higher education institution is required to develop and publicize a grievance procedure for
violations of academic freedom.
JUSTIFICATION:
Every institution of higher learning has a duty to promote intellectual diversity on campus. Too often, students find many college classes
biased or one-sided. The ideas of all students and faculty members should be treated with respect, and all ideas deserve to be represented on campus.
Professors and administrators have an obligation to make students aware of a broad range of viewpoints and perspectives. They are not hired to teach only students who share their political or philosophical views, and professors should never force their own views upon their students. The classroom is not and should never be a soapbox for a professor to promote his or her point of view.
The Academic Bill of Rights has been introduced as legislation in a number of state legislatures, and a few states have already adopted a
form of the Academic Bill of Rights. In one of the most recent examples, the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives — in July 2005 –passed a resolution supporting the principles of the Academic Bill of Rights.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.
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S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 10098 I N A S S E M B L Y February 28, 2006 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. SEMINERIO, MAYERSOHN, ZEBROWSKI — Multi-Spon- sored by — M. of A. GREEN, HIKIND, LAVELLE — read once and referred to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating an academic bill of rights THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 224-b 2 to read as follows: (same text as S6336)
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New York State Senate Bill S. 6336 The Student Bill of Rights
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