This bill, known as the New York City School-Based Food Pantry Act, authorizes the establishment of food pantries within high-need schools in New York City to help address student hunger and food insecurity. The program would operate on school premises during designated times, such as before or after school, providing free nutritious food to enrolled students and their families without interfering with instructional time. To ensure successful implementation, the bill mandates partnerships with local food organizations for training and supply coordination, while requiring strict guidelines to protect student dignity, maintain food safety, and prioritize volunteer-led operations. The Chancellor of the Department of Education would be responsible for prioritizing schools with the highest levels of economic need and submitting annual reports on the program's progress to state and city officials.
This bill requires state university councils to include faculty and professional staff as voting members. It mandates that each council have twelve members, including one faculty representative elected by the faculty senate and one professional staff representative elected by the professional staff senate. These representatives would have the same ethical and disclosure requirements as other council members and serve seven-year terms, while student members serve one-year terms. The bill applies to all state-operated institutions within the state university system.
This bill requires public schools to provide plant-based food options as an alternative to every meal or snack upon request by a student or their parent. The plant-based option must be offered at no additional cost and must meet USDA standards for meat alternatives, while the school must also include this availability in all food-related written materials. Schools must respond to requests in a reasonable manner, and the requirement applies to all students regardless of whether they have requested the option, though requesting students may still choose non-plant-based meals. The law takes effect immediately but applies to school food service starting one year after enactment.
This bill establishes a Students' Bill of Rights for CUNY institutions to protect student communication, governance, and free expression. It requires schools to create clear policies on student messaging, conduct hearings, and student representation in decision-making bodies. The law also guarantees student journalists editorial control over school media, protects them from retaliation, and ensures student activity fees are allocated by elected student representatives. These changes aim to formalize student rights in areas like free speech, self-governance, and media operations within the university system.
Requires the department of health, in consultation with the commissioner of education, to create and issue a five-year plan with proposals to best mitigate the persistence of lead in schools.
Exempts school district providers of special services or programs for preschool students with disabilities from having to obtain program approval from the commissioner of education.
This bill asks Governor Kathy Hochul to officially declare July 2026 as Culinary Arts Month in New York State. It recognizes the importance of chefs and cooks while highlighting local culinary education programs, particularly those at the William Floyd Hospitality Services Academy. The resolution does not change laws or create new programs but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the culinary profession and its educational opportunities. Copies of the resolution will be sent to the Governor and the relevant school district.
Directs the commissioner to convene statewide and regional conventions to bring together underrepresented educators annually to discuss experiences, best practices, and afford for networking, mentorship opportunities, and support.
Prohibits libraries and library systems, including school libraries and school library systems from banning books or other materials based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
Relates to the membership of the board of trustees of the state university of New York; reduces the number of trustees appointed by the governor from fifteen to ten; adds one trustee appointment by the speaker of the assembly, one by the temporary president of the senate, one by a majority vote of SUNY and CUNY staff, and two by a majority vote of SUNY alumni.
