Authorizes enrollment grants for medical education programs of non-public institutions for minorities, as a plan to increase the number of minority students entering and completing educational programs leading to professional licensure in medicine; increases grants based upon percentage of minority students enrolled at such institution; appropriates $258,000 to education department for payment of such grants.

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S2758-2011 Actions

• Mar 12, 2012: COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
• Mar 12, 2012: NOTICE OF COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION - REQUESTED
• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO FINANCE
• Feb 1, 2011: REFERRED TO FINANCE

S2758-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER S2758

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing enrollment
grants to increase the participation and retention in medical
education programs of New York state residents from groups
historically underrepresented and making
an appropriation therefor

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To increase the number of minority students entering and completing
educational programs leading to professional licensure in medicine.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This bill would add a new section 6402-a to the Education Law
authorizing the award of grants to independent institutions of higher
education offering registered programs in medicine as an incentive to
increase minority enrollment and retention in such
programs.  The bill provides that if a medical school's enrollment
comprises at least 8% (present mean enrollment) under-represented
minorities, the school would receive an additional capitation or
enrollment grant of $1,000 for each such minority
student.  If minority enrollment reaches 12% or higher, the capitation
bonus would be $2,000 per minority student; at 16% or higher, the bonus
would be $4,000 per minority student.  As a further inducement for
schools to develop programs aimed at supporting retention of minorities,
capitation payments for fourth-year students would be awarded at double
the normal level ($2,000, $4,000 or $8,000 depending on enrollment
percentage for that
year).  The bill would appropriate $258,000 to fund the program. The
bill would authorize the Commissioner of Education to promulgate
regulations to implement the program and establish a payment schedule
with the approval of the Director of the Budget. The Commissioner would
be required to review the effectiveness of the grant program, including
a review of the programs developed by the medical schools.

JUSTIFICATION:
In New York, as in the Nation, there is an acute under-representation of
minorities in medical education programs and, as a consequence, in the
licensed profession.  Statistics show, for example, that in New York,
Blacks and Hispanics account for approximately 25% of the total
population, 30% of the public school enrollment and 17% of the
undergraduate enrollment; but only 6% of first professional degrees
awarded in medicine go to members of those minority groups. Research
indicates that the provision of adequate medical services to minority
populations is closely related to the number of minority physicians. The
provision of such services has been cited as a compelling State interest
and stated as an expressed goal by the Board of Regents. New York
medical schools have not been successful in attracting the available
qualified minority candidates, and in some instances have fallen below
national averages and comparable States in enrollment of minorities.

Throughout the past several years New York State's medical schools have
repeatedly cited the lack of adequate resources as being a major
obstacle in their attempts to attract and retain larger numbers of
qualified minority students. It is anticipated that a modified New York
State program of capitation assistance, which includes incentive awards
tied to minority enrollments, will provide the necessary additional
resources to medical schools which can then implement better programs to
aid in increasing enrollment and retention of qualified minority
students. An increase in the number of minority medical school graduates
will improve the availability of medical services in many areas of the
State.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
1985-86: A.7727, Higher Education
1987-88: A.7935, Higher Education
1989-90: A.2617, Higher Education
1991-92: A.890,  Higher Education
1993-94: A.3099, Higher Education
1995-96: A.5315, Higher Education
1997-98: A.5315, Higher Education
1999-00: A.1660  Higher Education
2005-06: A.9669  Higher Education
2009-10: S.5035/A.5240 - Referred to Higher Education

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
It is estimated that this bill would require the following
appropriations in the fiscal years indicated:

        2001-02   $  501,000
        2002-03   $  915,000
        2003-04   $1,476,000
        2004-05   $1,873,000

EFFECTIVE DATE:
The  first  of  October  next succeeding the date on which it shall have
become a law.

S2758-2011 Text

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

                                    2758

                         2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                              February 1, 2011
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen. HASSELL-THOMPSON -- read twice and ordered printed,
    and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

  AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing enrollment
    grants to increase the participation and retention in  medical  educa-
    tion  programs  of  New  York state residents from groups historically
    underrepresented and making an appropriation therefor

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


    Section  1.  Legislative  findings and purpose. The legislature hereby
  finds and declares that individuals from certain minority groups, prima-
  rily Blacks, Hispanics and  Native  Americans,  have  been  historically
  underrepresented in medical education programs and, as a consequence, in
  the  medical  profession. A vast human resource remains largely untapped
  at a time when medical services in urban areas are  inadequate  and  the
  urban poor continue to be underserved.
    The  medical schools of the state have not been successful in attract-
  ing the available qualified minority candidates, and in  some  instances
  have  fallen below national averages and comparable states in enrollment
  of minorities.  Medical  schools  have  repeatedly  cited  the  lack  of
  adequate  resources  as  being  a  major  obstacle  in their attempts to
  attract and retain larger numbers of qualified minority students.
    The legislature therefore declares that a modified program of  capita-
  tion  assistance is needed for the purpose of expanding opportunities to
  underrepresented minority students to participate in  medical  education
  programs leading to licensure and a career in the medical profession.
    S  2.  The education law is amended by adding a new section 6402-a  to
  read as follows:

    S 6402-A. MINORITY  ENROLLMENT  GRANTS  TO  MEDICAL  SCHOOLS.  1.  THE
  COMMISSIONER  SHALL ANNUALLY APPORTION TO EACH NON-PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF
  HIGHER EDUCATION OFFERING AN APPROVED PROGRAM IN MEDICINE AN  ADDITIONAL
  ENROLLMENT  GRANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD06433-01-1

 S. 2758                             2

  FOR MINORITY STUDENTS, WHICH FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION SHALL MEAN
  STATE RESIDENTS WHO ARE BLACK, HISPANIC OR NATIVE AMERICAN, IN A SUM  TO
  BE DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS:

    (A)  ONE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  SHALL  BE  APPORTIONED FOR EACH FULL-TIME
  MINORITY STUDENT ENROLLED, PROVIDED THAT NOT LESS THAN EIGHT PERCENT  OF
  THE STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE INSTITUTION ARE MINORITY STUDENTS. AN ADDI-
  TIONAL  ONE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS SHALL BE APPORTIONED FOR EACH FOURTH-YEAR
  MINORITY STUDENT.
    (B) TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS  SHALL  BE  APPORTIONED  FOR  EACH  FULL-TIME
  MINORITY STUDENT ENROLLED, PROVIDED THAT NOT LESS THAN TWELVE PERCENT OF
  THE STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE INSTITUTION ARE MINORITY STUDENTS. AN ADDI-
  TIONAL  TWO  THOUSAND  DOLLARS SHALL BE APPORTIONED FOR EACH FOURTH-YEAR
  MINORITY STUDENT.
    (C) FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS SHALL  BE  APPORTIONED  FOR  EACH  FULL-TIME
  STUDENT  ENROLLED,  PROVIDED  THAT  NOT LESS THAN SIXTEEN PERCENT OF THE
  STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE INSTITUTION ARE  MINORITY  STUDENTS.  AN  ADDI-
  TIONAL  FOUR  THOUSAND DOLLARS SHALL BE APPORTIONED FOR EACH FOURTH-YEAR
  MINORITY STUDENT.
    2. INSTITUTIONS WHICH RECEIVE GRANTS PURSUANT TO  THIS  SECTION  SHALL
  SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER SUCH REPORTS OR DOCUMENTS IN SUCH FORM AND AT
  SUCH  TIME  AS HE OR SHE MAY REQUIRE BY REGULATION IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT
  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. THE COMMISSIONER PERIODICALLY SHALL REVIEW
  THE INSTITUTIONS WHICH RECEIVE STATE FUNDS PURSUANT TO THIS  SECTION  TO
  EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSTITUTIONS' MINORITY RECRUITMENT AND
  RETENTION PROGRAMS.
    3. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO ACCOMPLISH
  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.
    4.  FUNDS  APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE PAID
  IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PAYMENT SCHEDULE TO BE ESTABLISHED BY  THE  COMMIS-
  SIONER AND APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET.
    S  3.  The sum of two hundred fifty-eight thousand dollars ($258,000),
  or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby  appropriated  to  the
  education  department  out  of  any  moneys in the state treasury in the
  general fund to the credit of the local assistance account,  not  other-
  wise  appropriated, for the payment of capitation grants to increase the
  participation and retention of minority students  in  medical  education
  programs.    Such  sum  shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the
  state comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the  commissioner
  of education, in the manner prescribed by law.
    S  4. This act shall take effect on the first of October next succeed-
  ing the date on which it shall have become a law.