S 4159: 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.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4159 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 3, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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