Senate education committee advances five bills including teacher-registry proposal and arts instruction mandate

Senator Shelley Mayer, chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Education, opened the committee’s April 8, 2025, meeting and led consideration of five bills that the panel advanced by voice vote.

The package included a bill to make permanent a 2012 law permitting Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to provide services to out-of-state school districts; a proposal to create a confidential registry for complaints about the moral character of applicants for New York State teaching certificates; a ban on discrimination by school districts based on religious attire or facial coverings; authorization for a study on student caregivers; and a bill to require arts and music instruction in public school curricula.

Why it matters: several bills would affect hiring and personnel information-sharing (the registry proposal) and classroom requirements (arts instruction). Committee action moves the measures to the next stages of the legislative process: some to the Senate floor, and at least one to the finance committee for further consideration.

Senator Galavan presented S.57, described as an amendment to chapter 396 of the Laws of 2012 to make permanent provisions allowing BOCES to serve out-of-state school districts. Senator Taddisco moved the bill, Senator Salazar seconded, and the committee recorded a voice “Aye.” No “No” votes were recorded; the committee chair announced the bill “moves to the floor.”

Senator Scrutis presented S.312, a proposal to amend Education Law to permit complaints concerning the moral character of individuals who hold or apply for New York State teaching certificates to be conveyed through a confidential process. Committee discussion included questions about whether a statewide code of conduct exists and how the bill defines the conduct that would trigger inclusion in the registry. As described in committee, the bill defines the relevant conduct as a “boundary violation,” which the committee characterized as “an act, omission, or pattern of such behavior that is a deviation from the professional behavior required of the school employee, which may lead to a [sexually or otherwise] related offense as determined by the commissioner.” The committee also discussed public-records access; the bill, as described at the hearing, would make the registry not subject to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Senator Jackson moved S.312; Senator Lou seconded. The chair announced the bill “moves to finance.”

S.1424 (listed in the hearing as S.14 24), presented by Senator Lewis, would add to Education Law a prohibition on discrimination against students on school property or at school functions based on religious attire, clothing, or facial coverings. Senator Lou spoke in support and asked that the committee speak on the bill. Senator Cleary moved the bill and Senator Salazar seconded. The committee recorded a voice “Aye” and the chair announced the bill moves to the floor.

S.6273 (presented by Senator Bailey) would direct the commissioner of education to study the number of students who serve as caregivers and how caregiving responsibilities affect their education. Committee members noted the sponsor’s remarks about students caring for siblings. Senator Jackson moved the bill and Senator Lou seconded; the committee recorded a voice “Aye” and the chair announced the bill moves to the floor.

S.6318 (presented by Senator May) would require arts and music instruction be incorporated into curricula for all public school students, effectively codifying existing Board of Regents regulations into statute. Committee discussion described the bill as aligning statutory language with current Regents regulations that set standards for arts instruction in grades K–12. Senator Lou seconded the motion to move the bill; the committee recorded a voice “Aye.” The chair announced the bill’s advancement.

Votes at a glance

- S.57 (Galavan) — Motion to amend chapter 396 of the Laws of 2012 to make BOCES out-of-state service provisions permanent. Moved: Sen. Taddisco. Second: Sen. Salazar. Committee voice vote: “Aye”; no recorded opposition. Outcome: advanced to the Senate floor.

- S.312 (Scrutis) — Establishes a confidential registry for complaints concerning the moral character of individuals who hold or apply for New York State teaching certificates; defines qualifying conduct as a “boundary violation.” Moved: Sen. Jackson. Second: Sen. Lou. Committee voice vote: “Aye”; outcome: referred to Finance.

- S.1424 (Lewis) — Prohibits discrimination of students on school property or at school functions based on religious attire, clothing, or facial coverings. Moved: Sen. Cleary. Second: Sen. Salazar. Committee voice vote: “Aye”; outcome: advanced to the Senate floor.

- S.6273 (Bailey) — Directs the commissioner of education to conduct a study on students who are caregivers and the impact on their education. Moved: Sen. Jackson. Second: Sen. Lou. Committee voice vote: “Aye”; outcome: advanced to the Senate floor.

- S.6318 (May) — Requires arts and music instruction be incorporated into curricula for all public school students; intends to codify Board of Regents regulations into statute. Moved: Sen. (motion recorded). Second: Sen. Lou. Committee voice vote: “Aye”; outcome: advanced.

Committee procedural notes and clarifications

- Multiple items were handled by voice vote with an “Aye” recorded; the chair announced advancement for each measure. No roll-call tallies were given in the transcript for any bill, and no individual “No” votes were recorded in the committee record as provided.

- On S.312, committee discussion clarified the bill’s scope: the registry is described in committee as confidential and not subject to FOIL; the definition of conduct that would place a person on the registry was discussed as a “boundary violation,” as the bill text would define that term and defer certain determinations to the education commissioner.

- On S.6318, sponsors and committee members said the bill would mirror existing Board of Regents regulations setting arts-education standards; committee discussion framed the proposal as codifying current practice rather than adding new standards beyond the regs.

What’s next: Bills advanced to the floor will await scheduling by Senate leaders for consideration by the full chamber. The bill referred to Finance will proceed through that committee’s review.

Meeting attendance and participants were announced during the hearing; senators appearing in the transcript include Sen. Shelley Mayer (chair), Sen. Galavan, Sen. Scrutis, Sen. Taddisco, Sen. Salazar, Sen. Cleary, Sen. Lewis, Sen. Lou, Sen. Bailey, Sen. Jackson, Sen. May and Sen. White.