Bill Text: NY A02968 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates a commission to evaluate the need for community colleges to participate in the educational opportunity program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - referred to higher education [A02968 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A02968-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
            S. 3485                                                  A. 2968
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                SENATE - ASSEMBLY
                                    January 23, 2017
                                       ___________
        IN  SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered print-
          ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Educa-
          tion
        IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once  and  referred
          to the Committee on Higher Education
        AN  ACT relating to creating the commission on affordable college educa-
          tion to study the participation of community colleges  in  the  educa-
          tional  opportunity  program;  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.  Legislative findings. The legislature hereby acknowledges
     2  the need for a college education to compete in today's market.  Further-
     3  more, residents throughout New York state are in need of more affordable
     4  higher  education  options.  Currently,  twelve  out  of the thirty SUNY
     5  community colleges do not participate  in  the  Educational  Opportunity
     6  Programs  (EOP),  which provide vital financial and academic support for
     7  thousands  of  academic  and  economically  disadvantaged  New   Yorkers
     8  throughout  the  state.  Subsequently,  community  college students from
     9  those twelve two-year colleges, who seek to transfer  into  a  four-year
    10  school  as Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) or EOP applicants
    11  risk potentially disqualifying themselves for such financial and academ-
    12  ic support programs.
    13    § 2. A temporary state commission, to be known as the  "commission  on
    14  affordable  college education", is hereby established to examine, evalu-
    15  ate and make recommendations concerning the need  for  the  twelve  SUNY
    16  community  colleges to participate in EOP. The commission shall consider
    17  the need for additional legislation to amend current eligibility  crite-
    18  ria for transfer students.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD06508-01-7
        S. 3485                             2                            A. 2968
     1    § 3. The commission shall consist of thirteen members, to be appointed
     2  as follows: three members to be appointed by the governor; three members
     3  to  be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; three members
     4  to be appointed by the speaker  of  the  assembly;  two  members  to  be
     5  appointed  by  the  minority leader of the senate; and two members to be
     6  appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The members shall have
     7  demonstrated expertise in and experience in the field of  higher  educa-
     8  tion,  HEOP,  or EOP. A chairperson and vice-chairperson of such commis-
     9  sion shall be elected by the majority of its members, all members  being
    10  present.
    11    §  4.  The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
    12  their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
    13  incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
    14    § 5. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove  such  personnel
    15  as  it  may  deem  necessary  for the performance of its functions. Such
    16  commission may meet and hold public and/or private  hearings  within  or
    17  without  the  state,  and  shall  have  all  the powers of a legislative
    18  committee pursuant to the legislative law.
    19    § 6. For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission  shall  be
    20  authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or
    21  analyses  it  may deem relevant in cooperation with or by agreement with
    22  any other public or private agency.
    23    § 7. The commission shall make a report of its findings, including any
    24  recommendations for legislative action as  it  may  deem  necessary  and
    25  appropriate,  to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and
    26  the speaker of the assembly no later than one year after  the  effective
    27  date of this act.
    28    §  8.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
    29  become a law and shall expire and be deemed  repealed  two  years  after
    30  such date.