Relates to eligibility for state aid for certain independent institutions of higher learning; provides that a former two-year institution may elect to continue to receive associate level degree awards if it foregoes receiving any awards for degrees conferred at the bachelor's level.

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S6424-2011 Actions

• Jun 13, 2012: SUBSTITUTED BY A9391
• Jun 13, 2012: ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1240
• Jun 13, 2012: COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
• Jun 5, 2012: REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
• Feb 8, 2012: REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

S6424-2011 Meetings

Rules: Jun 18, 2012

S6424-2011 Calendars

Floor Calendar: Jun 13, 2012

S6424-2011 Votes

S6424-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S6424

TITLE OF BILL:

An act
to amend the education law, in relation to eligibility for state aid for
certain independent institutions of higher learning

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To ensure that the education law regarding Bundy Aid allocations for
Trocaire College (The Mercy College of Western New York) is
maintained at its current level based on Associate Degrees awarded.
Although Trocaire College has recently added baccalaureate programs
in Radiological Technology and Nursing it essentially remains a two
year college utilizing its Bundy Aid to support scholarships for
economically challenged students.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends subdivision 3 of section 6401, of the education law
by adding or (c) such authority having been granted after the first
day of December, two thousand nine, but before the first day of
January, two thousand ten. This change in language will allow
Trocaire to receive Bundy funds based on Associate degrees awarded.

Section 2 amends the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

This bill would update the education law to allow Trocaire College to
receive Bundy Aid allocations based on their current number of
associates degree awarded as opposed to the limited amount of
baccalaureate degrees. The law in its current form will decrease the
amount of state aid to Trocaire by approximately $22,000 annually.
Bundy Aid is an essential part of providing financial assistance to
our largely non-traditional student base. More than 90 percent of
Trocaire students are eligible for financial aid and more than 40
percent are single parent heads of household.

In the past other educational institutions, such as Villa Maria
College and the Culinary Institute of America have been granted
exceptions through legislation to have Bundy Aid allocated based on
the number of associates degrees conferred. Trocaire college relies
on Bundy Aid to help support their financial aid program. Bundy
funding supports scholarships for economically challenged students
and enables them to further their education and develop rewarding
careers.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.

S6424-2011 Text

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

                                    6424

                              I N  SENATE

                              February 8, 2012
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by Sen. GRISANTI -- 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 eligibility for  state
    aid for certain independent institutions of higher learning

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


    Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 6401  of  the  education  law,  as
  amended  by  chapter  507  of  the  laws  of 2008, is amended to read as
  follows:

    3. Degree awards. The amount of  such  annual  apportionment  to  each
  institution  meeting the requirements of subdivision two of this section
  shall be computed by multiplying by not to exceed  six  hundred  dollars
  the  number  of  earned associate degrees, by not to exceed one thousand
  five hundred dollars the number of earned bachelor's degrees, by not  to
  exceed nine hundred fifty dollars the number of earned master's degrees,
  and by not to exceed four thousand five hundred fifty dollars the number
  of  earned  doctorate  degrees, conferred by such institution during the
  twelve-month period next preceding the  annual  period  for  which  such
  apportionment  is  made,  provided that there shall be excluded from any
  such computation the number of degrees earned by students  with  respect
  to whom state aid other than that established by this section or section
  sixty-four  hundred  one-a  of  this  article is granted directly to the
  institution, and provided further that, except as otherwise provided  in
  this  subdivision,  the amount apportioned for an associate degree shall
  be awarded only to two year institutions  qualifying  under  subdivision
  two  of  this  section.  The regents shall promulgate rules defining and
  classifying professional degrees  for  the  purposes  of  this  section.
  Institutions  qualifying  for  state  aid  pursuant to the provisions of
  paragraph (b) of subdivision two of this section shall, for purposes  of
  this subdivision, be deemed to be the institutions which confer degrees.
  For  purposes  of  this  subdivision,  a  two-year institution which has
  received authority to confer  bachelor  degrees  shall  continue  to  be
  considered  a  two-year  institution  until such time as it has actually
  begun to confer the bachelor's degree. Thereafter,  notwithstanding  any

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD14294-02-2

 S. 6424                             2

  other provision of law to the contrary, an institution which was former-
  ly a two-year institution for the purposes of this section and which was
  granted  authority  by  the regents to confer bachelor degrees, (a) such
  authority  having  been  granted  after  the first day of June, nineteen
  hundred ninety-three, but before the first day of July, nineteen hundred
  ninety-three, or (b) such authority having been granted after the  first
  day  of  May,  two  thousand five, but before the first day of June, two
  thousand five, OR (C) SUCH AUTHORITY HAVING BEEN GRANTED AFTER THE FIRST
  DAY OF DECEMBER, TWO THOUSAND NINE, BUT BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY,
  TWO THOUSAND TEN, may elect to continue to  receive  awards  for  earned
  associate  degrees.  Should  such  institution so elect, it shall not be
  eligible during the time of such election to receive awards  for  earned
  bachelor's degrees.
    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.