S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  3692

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 27, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. GLICK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE,
  GOTTFRIED, PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on  Higher
  Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a student
  complaint  system  for  the  state university of New York and the city
  university of New York

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 239-b
to read as follows:
  S 239-B. STUDENT COMPLAINT TRACKING SYSTEM. 1. ESTABLISHMENT.   WITHIN
ONE  HUNDRED  EIGHTY  DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE
CHANCELLOR SHALL ESTABLISH A  SYSTEM  TO  COLLECT,  PROCESS,  AND  TRACK
COMPLAINTS  SUBMITTED  TO THE CHANCELLOR BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ENROLLED
IN PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION WITHIN THE STATE  UNIVERSITY  SYSTEM.  FOR  THE
PURPOSES  OF  THIS SECTION, A "STUDENT COMPLAINT" SHALL BE DEFINED AS AN
EXPRESSION OF DISSATISFACTION WITHIN  THE  UNIVERSITY  WHICH  EXPLICITLY
EXPECTS  AN  ACTIONABLE  RESPONSE OR RESOLUTION THAT IS THE RESULT OF AN
ACTION OR INACTION UNDERTAKEN BY THE UNIVERSITY.
  2. REQUIREMENTS. THE COMPLAINT SYSTEM  ESTABLISHED  UNDER  SUBDIVISION
ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL: (A) CREATE AN INDIVIDUAL CASE NUMBER FOR EACH
COMPLAINT PROCESSED AND TRACKED IN THE SYSTEM; (B) ALLOW FOR THE REPORT-
ING  OF  COMPLAINTS, DISAGGREGATED BY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION; (C) ALLOW
FOR THE REPORTING OF  COMPLAINTS,  DISAGGREGATED  BY  TOPIC  OR  SUBJECT
MATTER;  (D) ALLOW FOR THE SUBMITTAL OF COMPLAINTS BY VARIOUS METHODS TO
INSURE THE ABILITY OF ALL STUDENTS TO REASONABLY FILE THEIR  COMPLAINTS,
WHICH  CAN  INCLUDE  (I)  INTERNET  WEBSITE;  AND  (II)  TELEPHONE VIA A
TOLL-FREE NUMBER; (E) ALLOW FOR THE SHARING OF COMPLAINTS WITH  (I)  THE
EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS  THAT ARE THE SUBJECTS OF THE COMPLAINTS, (II)
THE COMMISSIONER, AND (III) AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES  OF  FACULTY  AND
STUDENTS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03867-01-5
              

A. 3692                             2

  3.   PRIVACY.  COMPLAINTS  SHARED  SHALL  BE  ANONYMIZED,  UNLESS  THE
COMPLAINANT  GIVES  PERMISSION  TO   THE   CHANCELLOR   TO   SHARE   THE
COMPLAINANT'S IDENTITY.
  4.  PREPARATION  AND  DISTRIBUTION  OF  REPORTS.  THE CHANCELLOR SHALL
SUBMIT A BIENNIAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE DESCRIBING  THE
PROGRESS OF THE STUDENT COMPLAINT TRACKING SYSTEM, THE NATURE AND NUMBER
OF  COMPLAINTS,  AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE ACTIONS TAKEN TO RESOLVE THE
COMPLAINTS.
  S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new  section  6206-a  to
read as follows:
  S 6206-A. STUDENT COMPLAINT TRACKING SYSTEM. 1. ESTABLISHMENT.  WITHIN
ONE  HUNDRED  EIGHTY  DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL ESTABLISH A  SYSTEM  TO  COLLECT,  PROCESS,  AND
TRACK  COMPLAINTS  SUBMITTED  TO  THE  CHANCELLOR BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
ENROLLED IN PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION WITHIN THE CITY UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. FOR
THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A "STUDENT COMPLAINT" SHALL BE DEFINED  AS
AN  EXPRESSION OF DISSATISFACTION WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY WHICH EXPLICITLY
EXPECTS AN ACTIONABLE RESPONSE OR RESOLUTION THAT IS THE  RESULT  OF  AN
ACTION OR INACTION UNDERTAKEN BY THE UNIVERSITY.
  2.  REQUIREMENTS.  THE  COMPLAINT SYSTEM ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBDIVISION
ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL: (A) CREATE AN INDIVIDUAL CASE NUMBER FOR EACH
COMPLAINT PROCESSED AND TRACKED IN THE SYSTEM; (B) ALLOW FOR THE REPORT-
ING OF COMPLAINTS, DISAGGREGATED BY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION;  (C)  ALLOW
FOR  THE  REPORTING  OF  COMPLAINTS,  DISAGGREGATED  BY TOPIC OR SUBJECT
MATTER; (D) ALLOW FOR THE SUBMITTAL OF COMPLAINTS BY VARIOUS METHODS  TO
INSURE  THE ABILITY OF ALL STUDENTS TO REASONABLY FILE THEIR COMPLAINTS,
WHICH CAN INCLUDE  (I)  INTERNET  WEBSITE;  AND  (II)  TELEPHONE  VIA  A
TOLL-FREE  NUMBER;  (E) ALLOW FOR THE SHARING OF COMPLAINTS WITH (I) THE
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE THE SUBJECTS OF THE  COMPLAINTS,  (II)
THE  COMMISSIONER,  AND  (III) AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES OF FACULTY AND
STUDENTS OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
  3.  PRIVACY.  COMPLAINTS  SHARED  SHALL  BE  ANONYMIZED,  UNLESS   THE
COMPLAINANT   GIVES   PERMISSION   TO   THE   CHANCELLOR  TO  SHARE  THE
COMPLAINANT'S IDENTITY.
  4. PREPARATION AND  DISTRIBUTION  OF  REPORTS.  THE  CHANCELLOR  SHALL
SUBMIT  A BIENNIAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE DESCRIBING THE
PROGRESS OF THE STUDENT COMPLAINT TRACKING SYSTEM, THE NATURE AND NUMBER
OF COMPLAINTS, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE ACTIONS TAKEN TO  RESOLVE  THE
COMPLAINTS.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.