S2854-2013 Actions

• Jan 24, 2013: REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

S2854-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2854

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
authorizing the state university trustees to make courses available for
certain persons sixty years of age or over

PURPOSE:   This bill will permit the trustees of the State University to
allow senior citizens to take courses for credit, on  a  space-available
basis, without charge, at State-operated campuses.

SUMMARY  OF  PROVISIONS:   Amends � 355 of the Education Law to add for-
credit courses (to a maximum of nine credit hours per semester)  to  the
existing provisions which authorize senior citizens to audit courses, on
a space available basis, at no charge.

JUSTIFICATION:    In  1974,  New York State took a giant step forward by
adopting Chapter 1002 of the Laws of 1974 permitting senior citizens  to
audit  courses  at  the State University without tuition, examination or
credit, on a space available basis. On approving that  legislation,  the
Governor  noted  that, "Education can be a major factor in helping older
people maintain their mental alertness, {and}  continue  active  partic-
ipation in the affairs of their communities. In many instances, however,
financial  and  formal educational barriers have rendered such education
opportunity inaccessible."

Although the 1974 law began an important step forward,  senior  citizens
have  so far been denied the opportunity to further their education on a
for-credit basis. This bill would extend to persons age 60 and over  the
ability  to  attend  courses  at no charge at the State University, on a
space-available basis, while receiving credit  for  their  course  work.
This  is  a logical continuation of our efforts to integrate our elderly
collegians fully into the mainstream of academic life. It is time to  to
the  privileges  of  an  auditor,  but also to the opportunities of full
participation in their course work.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:    S.3485/A.4360  of  2011-2012;  S.1388/A.3951  of
2009-2010,   S.2510/A.4820   of   2007-08,   S.2481/A.5079  of  2005-06,
S.1532/A.3267 of 2003-04, S.2841/A.5383  of  2001-02,  S.1836/A.3165  of
1999-2000,   S.2338/A.3768   of   1997-98,  S.1631/A.11268  of  1995-96,
S.2191/A.3788 of 1993-94, S.2751/A.4204 of 1991-1992  and  S.2052/A.3101
of  1989-1990.  Has  passed  the  Senate  in  varying versions from 1980
through 2008.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:   There is  no  direct  fiscal  impact,  since  all
attendance would be on a space-available basis.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None

EFFECTIVE  DATE:   April next succeeding the date on which it shall have
become law.

S2854-2013 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         2854
 2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 January 24, 2013
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. FARLEY, ADDABBO, DILAN, FUSCHILLO, GOLDEN, GRIFFO,
 GRISANTI, HASSELL-THOMPSON, LARKIN,  LAVALLE,  MARCELLINO,  MARCHIONE,
 MARTINS, MONTGOMERY, RANZENHOFER, STAVISKY, STEWART-COUSINS, ZELDIN -
 read  twice  and  ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
 the Committee on Higher Education
 

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the  state
 university  trustees  to  make  courses  available for certain persons
 sixty years of age or over
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section  1. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section
 355 of the education law, as separately amended by chapters 552 and  616
 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:

 (1)  Notwithstanding  the  provisions of any other general, special or
 local law, rule or regulation, such regulations may permit persons sixty
 years of age or over to  [audit]  TAKE  courses  given  therein  without
 tuition,  EITHER  FOR  CREDIT, OR WITHOUT examination, grading or credit
 therefor upon a space available basis, as determined by the president of
 each such institution, provided that such [audit]  attendance  does  not
 deny  course attendance at a state-operated institution by an individual
 who is otherwise qualified under the regulations promulgated pursuant to
 this section. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, PERSONS SIXTY YEARS  OF  AGE
 OR  OVER  WHO  ARE  RESIDENTS OF THE STATE SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE NOT
 MORE THAN NINE CREDIT HOURS OF COURSES FOR CREDIT PER  SEMESTER  WITHOUT
 TUITION.
 

S  2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04503-01-3

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