DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT WAITING FOR GOV'S SIGNATURE

Rochesterian and Pride At Work member Todd Plank has been

a tireless advocate for the Dignity For All Students Act. 

Here he is marching in the Rochester Pride Parade in 2009.

(photo by Ove Overmyer)

Albany, N.Y. -- In an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 58-3 on June 22, the New York State Senate passed a bill combating bias-based bullying, harassment and discrimination in the state's public schools. The Senate vote follows the Assembly's May 17 passage of the "Dignity for All Students Act" or "Dignity" (A.3661/S.1987) with a vote of 138-4.

Western New York Senate Republicans George Maziarz (62nd District-- Niagara, Orleans and parts of Monroe County) and Dale Volker (59th-- parts of Erie, Wyoming, Livingston and Ontario Counties) both voted no on the bill.

The Dignity bill was first introduced in the Legislature in 2000 and has been passed nine years by the Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. This is the first time the Senate has passed a bill that would extend protections for gender expression, gender identity and for transgender people.

The New York State Assembly had previously approved the bill on May 17. Governor David Paterson is expected to sign the legislation into law.  It will take effect July 1, 2012.

Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell, the Assembly sponsor of the bill said, "For too long, our educational system has been blind to the plight of these students. I am proud that the Assembly led the way on this important issue, and that the Dignity for All Students Act will finally reach the Governor's desk."

Your Local 828 officers have been vocal proponents of this legislation, helping the Region 6 Women’s Committee craft and pass a similar resolution at the CSEA statewide delegates meeting last September in Buffalo, N.Y..

The Women's Committee is co-chaired by Judy Dipaola (Local 335) and Rose Conti (Local 859), and they should be publicly thanked for their courageous leadership on this issue.  CSEA represents many workers in the public school environment, and this legislation will give members the necessary tools to help create safer public school environments.

Here is a press release from Senator Tom Duane, the senate sponsor of the bill.

This legislation would establish reporting requirements, as well as clear procedures for responding to incidents of abuse and bullying. The bill also calls for the prevention of harassment through education by training students and staff on how to foster a learning environment free of harassment based on a person’s race, national origin, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Right now, New York is one of only eight states nationwide without an anti-bullying law.

“Bullying and harassment in any form are disruptive to a student’s ability to learn and a threat to the safety and security of our children. No student should have to fear for his or her safety while trying to learn in school,” said Local 828 President Bess Watts.

Key provisions include: developing rules to prevent and respond to discriminatory harassment and hate violence; establishing teacher, staff and administrative training guidelines; incorporating discrimination awareness into civility and character education curricula; and, required reporting of incidents of bias harassment to the State Education Department.

(Above file photo of Senator Tom Duane provided by NYS Senate)