Bill Text: NY A07742 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates the general equivalency degree assistance pilot program; makes appropriation therefor.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - referred to higher education [A07742 Detail]
Download: New_York-2013-A07742-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 7742 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y June 3, 2013 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, GRAF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the general equivalency degree assistance pilot program; and making an appropriation therefor; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6311 2 to read as follows: 3 S 6311. GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DEGREE ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM. 1. 4 AUTHORIZATION. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY GENERAL OR SPECIAL LAW, RULE OR REGU- 5 LATION TO THE CONTRARY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNI- 6 TY COLLEGE IS AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM FOR ONLINE EDUCA- 7 TION FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH OBTAINING THEIR 8 GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DEGREE. 9 2. TUITION. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY CHARGE TUITION FOR SUCH PROGRAM; 10 PROVIDED THAT SUCH FEES SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS PER 11 SEMESTER PER INDIVIDUAL ENROLLED IN SUCH PROGRAM. 12 3. CURRICULUM. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A 13 CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF EDUCATION NECESSARY TO PASS 14 THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH CURRICULUM 15 SHALL, AT A MINIMUM, INCLUDE A COURSE OF STUDY IN MATHEMATICS, ENGLISH 16 READING AND COMPREHENSION, UNITED STATES AND WORLD HISTORY AND THE 17 GENERAL SCIENCES. 18 4. WEBSITE. (A) THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL MAINTAIN A WEBSITE 19 DISPLAYING THE CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTIONS ON THE RECOMMENDED COURSE OF 20 STUDY, QUIZZES AND PRACTICE TESTS ON THE SUBJECT MATERIAL, AND LINKS TO 21 FREE TUTORIAL PROGRAMS ADJUDGED INFORMATIVE AND VALID BY THE BOARD. 22 (B) EACH COURSE OF STUDY SHALL BE MAINTAINED UNDER ITS OWN DEDICATED 23 WEBPAGE OR SECTION OF SUCH WEBSITE. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD07197-01-3 A. 7742 2 1 (C) SUCH WEBSITE SHALL PROMINENTLY DISPLAY THE DATES, TIMES AND PLACES 2 WHERE THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM IS AVAILABLE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW 3 A PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE MAY APPLY. 4 (D) SUCH WEBSITE SHALL BE INTERACTIVE IN FORMAT WITH PROSPECTIVE 5 CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM ABLE TO SUBMIT PRACTICE EXAMS 6 AND QUIZZES FOR GRADING, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO SEEK TUTORIAL ASSIST- 7 ANCE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER THROUGH ELECTRONIC MAIL. 8 5. TEACHING ASSISTANTS. STUDENTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 9 THAT MAINTAIN A GRADE POINT AVERAGE ABOVE 3.5 THROUGH THE SEMESTER 10 PRECEDING THEIR APPLICATION AS A TEACHING ASSISTANT SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO 11 PROVIDE TUTORIAL SERVICES TO PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES. THE COMPENSATION OF 12 SUCH STUDENTS SHALL BE SET BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 13 S 2. During the fourth year next succeeding the effective date of this 14 act, the board of trustees of Suffolk county community college shall 15 undertake or cause to be undertaken a study on the effectiveness of the 16 general equivalency degree assistance pilot program and its effects on 17 ameliorating the number of high school dropouts without a general equiv- 18 alency degree and shall prepare recommendations for the governor and 19 legislature on whether a general equivalency degree assistance pilot 20 program should be established statewide, and, if so, make recommenda- 21 tions as to provisions including state incentives for the program. 22 S 3. The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or so much 23 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any monies in 24 the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state 25 purposes fund, not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately avail- 26 able, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such 27 monies shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on 28 vouchers certified or approved by the comptroller of Suffolk county in 29 the manner prescribed by law. 30 S 4. This act shall take effect on the first of September next 31 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall expire 32 5 years after such effective date when upon such date the provisions of 33 this act shall be deemed repealed.