A bill providing that Sabbath observers or those who observe a religious holiday need not take civil service examinations that conflict with their religious practices was passed finally this weekend by the New York State Legislature. The measure has been forwarded to Gov. Rockefeller for his signature.
The bill has been sponsored by three Bronx Democrats, Assemblyman Alexander Channau and State Senators Jerome Schutzer and Archie A. Gorfinkel. It provides that Jews, Seventh Day Adventists, Seventh Day Baptists, or others whose religious practices forbid taking examinations on certain days, be permitted to “take such examinations on some other, mutually convenient day without any additional fee or penalty.”
Until now, the sponsors told the Legislature, the New York City Municipal Civil Service Commission discriminated against Sabbatarian when examinations were scheduled on Saturdays. The sponsors of the legislation pointed out that Federal law and U.S. civil service regulations already provide relief for applicants taking Federal examination on religious holidays.
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