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Sponsors
22 Co-sponsors
- Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
- Greg Ball
- Martin Malavé Dilan
- Adriano Espaillat
- Simcha Felder
- Martin J. Golden
- Joseph A. Griffo
- Mark Grisanti
- Ruth Hassell-Thompson
- William J. Larkin Jr.
- George Latimer
- Kenneth P. LaValle
- Carl L. Marcellino
- Kathleen A. Marchione
- Jack M. Martins
- Velmanette Montgomery
- Kevin S. Parker
- Michael H. Ranzenhofer
- John L. Sampson
- Toby Ann Stavisky
- Andrea Stewart-Cousins
- Lee M. Zeldin
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Permits persons 60 years of age to take state university courses for credit without tuition
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor William Magnarelli
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.