Directs the commissioner of education to provide for the proportionate availability of adequate school supplies for use by left-handed students where adequate supplies are available for use by right-handed students; applies to any school supplies and equipment purchased by the department or schools on or after the effective date of rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner of education.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4856
SPONSOR: Ramos
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing for the
availability of adequate supplies for left-handed students
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide adequate supplies for left-handed students in public schools.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This bill would amend section 305 of the education law by adding subdi-
vision 57 that would allow for the Commissioner of Education to estab-
lish rules and regulations to provide adequate supplies for left-handed
students where adequate supplies and equipment are available for the
right-handed students.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the article "The Left-Handed Child in a Right-Handed World"
by Clinton Hackney, Ed.D, recent studies indicate the number of left-
handed people is on the rise. This is possibly the result of more
relaxed home and school discipline regarding what were once stigmatized
as an aberration. Talented and renowned left-handed people throughout
history have made major contributions to society. Half of the last six
U.S. Presidents have been left-handed. Significant troubles are faced
in school by left-handed students.
Left-handed students frequently "make do" with supplies that make learn-
ing difficult. For example, having to use right-handed scissors or
right-handed desks or right-handed band equipment. This bill seeks to
remedy the challenges faced by many left-handed students in the learning
process.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.5655 of 2021-22 referred to education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4856
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 23, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RAMOS -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing for the
availability of adequate supplies for left-handed students
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 57 to read as follows:
3 57. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations to provide
4 for the proportionate availability of adequate school supplies and
5 equipment for use by left-handed students where adequate supplies and
6 equipment are available for use by right-handed students. The rules and
7 regulations promulgated pursuant to this subdivision shall apply to any
8 school supplies and equipment purchased by the department or schools on
9 or after the effective date of such rules and regulations.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08268-01-3