File #: Res 0048-2014    Version: * Name: Establish the Asian Lunar New Year as an official holiday for NYC students. (S.160/A.276)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 2/26/2014
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.160/A.276, legislation which would establish the Asian Lunar New Year as an official holiday for New York City students.
Sponsors: Margaret S. Chin, Peter A. Koo, Paul A. Vallone, Costa G. Constantinides, Vincent J. Gentile, Andy L. King, Rosie Mendez, Annabel Palma, Deborah L. Rose, Karen Koslowitz
Council Member Sponsors: 10

Res. No. 48

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.160/A.276, legislation which would establish the Asian Lunar New Year as an official holiday for New York City students. 

 

By Council Members Chin, Koo, Vallone, Constantinides, Gentile, King, Mendez, Palma, Rose and Koslowitz

 

                     Whereas, The Asian Lunar New Year is considered to be a significant holiday by many in the Asian community; and

                     Whereas, The Lunar New Year is celebrated by Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese and other Asian ethnic groups; and

Whereas, Previously, legislation was introduced in the New York State Senate and Assembly that would amend the State Education Law in relation to establishing the Asian Lunar New Year school holiday; and

Whereas, S.160/A.276, sponsored by Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Ron Kim, calls for the establishment of  the Asian Lunar New Year day as a school holiday for all school districts of cities with one million inhabitants or more, with an Asian population of seven and one-half percent or more; and

Whereas, According to statistics from the New York City Department of Education (DOE), approximately 14% of students in the New York City school system are considered to be Asian American; and

Whereas, While the DOE excuses absences taken for missed days due to religious observances, the child is still marked absent and will miss a day of classes; and

Whereas, These absences will impact upon the child’s and the school’s attendance record; and

Whereas, Currently, New York City public schools are closed on several religious holidays, including Christmas, Good Friday, Rosh Hashanah and Passover; and

Whereas, New York’s flourishing population of Asian American residents and students, along with the cultural importance of the Asian Lunar New Year, point to the necessity for the observance to be a school holiday; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.160/A.276, legislation which would establish the Asian Lunar New Year as an official holiday for New York City students. 

 

 

 

Res. No. 1293-2012

JP

2/14/14

LS 421