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History
- Print number 6511a
- Amend and recommit 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.
Enacts tuition-free NY to provide free tuition at SUNY, CUNY and community colleges
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor James Skoufis
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6511A
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting "Tuition-Free NY"
Purpose
To provide for free tuition at the State University of New York and City University of New York for qualifying students.
Summary of specific provisions
Tuition at all two and four-year SUNY and CUNY institutions will be tuition-free including school fees should qualifying students meet a number of conditions, most notable of which are: (1) 250 hours of community service per year for non-STEM degrees or 125 hours of community service per year for STEM degrees and (2) a New York residency and work place requirement following graduation.
Any student eligible for resident tuition rates is eligible for this program. Any student that fails to meet the conditions set forth in the program will have their benefit turn into a student loan.
Justification
Through rising higher education costs and skyrocketing student loan obligations, college has become unaffordable for some and a huge financial burden for many more. Tuition-Free NY will help ensure that anyone who wants to attend a two or four-year SUNY or CUNY institution is able to, regardless of individual or family income. Further, billions of dollars in volunteerism will be generated as well as additional state and local revenue from graduates staying in New York who would otherwise leave (e.g. sales tax, income tax, homeownership).
Last, but certainly not least, graduates will have additional disposable income that would otherwise have gone to big bank lenders that will be injected into local economies.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
Impact Beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal year budget
Effective date
April 1st 2015
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.