Relates to the use of tuition at the state universities and city university; repealer

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Authorizes the SUNY trustees to increase out-of-state and graduate and professional degree program tuition, and to ensure that the revenue generated is used for campus purposes. Further, this section provides that the State shall not decrease general fund operating support from the funds appropriated in 2011-2012 unless personal income tax receipts decline.

Section 2: Authorizes the SUNY trustees to increase tuition over the next four years in the following amounts: $250 in academic year 2011-2012; $200 in academic year 2012-2013; $200 in academic year 2013-2014; and $150 in academic year 2014-2015. This section further authorizes the Trustees to establish a STEM Plus fee at the four University Centers at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook for those students enrolled in certain declared majors. Additionally, this section creates reporting requirements and provides that if the annual undergraduate rate of tuition exceeds five thousand dollars, then a tuition credit for each eligible student shall be applied to the cost of tuition.

Section 3: Repeals section 8-b of section 355 of the education law.

Section 4: Establishes tuition credit eligibility.

Section 5: Authorizes the CUNY Trustees to increase tuition over the next four years in the following amounts: $250 in academic year 2011-2012; $200 in academic year 2012-2013; $200 in academic year 2013-2014; and $150 in academic year 2014-2015. This section further authorizes the Trustees to establish a STEM Plus fee at certain senior colleges for those students enrolled in certain declared majors. It further provides that if the annual undergraduate rate of tuition exceeds five thousand dollars, then a tuition credit for each eligible student shall be applied to the cost of tuition.

Section 6: Requires that the tuition revenue generated be used solely for the purposes of CUNY and provides that the State shall not decrease general fund operating support from the funds appropriated in 2011-2012 unless personal income tax receipts decline.

Section 7: Repeals section 4-a of subdivision A of section 6221 of the education law.

Section 8: Creates a new section of the State Finance law to establish the State University of New York agency trust fund.

Section 9: Provides that the SUNY trustees shall conduct a study regarding the effectiveness and functionality of TAP.

Section 10: Provides that the CUNY trustees shall conduct a study regarding the effectiveness and functionality of TAP.

Section 11: Provides that this act shall take effect immediately and be deemed expired on June 30,2015.

Justification

The recent fiscal austerity measures brought to bear on SUNY and CUNY have created a tremendous financial strain on the institutions, parents and students. The lack of a systematic and rational tuition plan coupled with massive budget cuts has only exacerbated the already strained systems. By allowing SUNY and CUNY to set reasonable and rational tuition policies with direct mechanisms to keep the revenues routed back into the institutions will only help families better plan college costs and enable the institutions to retain more of the revenue they create and put it where they need it most, while being less reliant on the implementation of fees and surcharges to raise revenues beyond a base level of state mandates support.

Legislative history

New legislation.

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

Immediately.