Relates to the election of regents and the creation of the commission on regents

1 Co-sponsor

• William J. Larkin Jr.

BILL NUMBER:S6790A

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the election of regents and the creation of the commission on regents

Purpose

Creates a commission on regents nominations appointed by the Governor, the temporary president of the Senate, the speaker and the minority leaders of the Senate and the Assembly to review candidates for the Board of Regents.

Summary of provisions

Section 1. Establishes that terms for the Regents expire April 1, 2015 and each regent elected after April 1, 2015 shall serve for a term of five years.

Section 2. Creates the commission on regents nominations which shall consist of ten members appointed by the Governor, the president pro temp, the speaker and the minority leaders of the Assembly and the Senate. Members shall serve for two years and shall consider and evalu- ate candidates for the Board of Regents and make recommendations to the Governor. For each vacancy, the commission shall recommend to the Gover- nor at least three persons and not more than seven persons. The Gover- nor shall make his appointment among those recommended to him by the commission no sooner than fifteen days and no later than thirty days. Each nominee shall then be elected by concurrent resolution in the Senate and the Assembly or meet in joint session and elect such regent by joint ballot.

Section 3. Establishes the effective date as the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.

Existing law

The regents are elected by the legislature by concurrent resolution or in a joint session of the two houses by a joint ballot.

Justification

The Board of Regents determines education policy for the state of New York, establishes rules for carrying out state law and has broad author- ity over all of the state's educational institutions. Given the impor- tance of the duties and responsibilities of this body, it is critically important that the members of the Board of Regents are well qualified, personally interviewed and meet the character, temperament, professional aptitude and possess the experience necessary for the important role the regents are charged with.

Be creating a commission to review the candidates and presenting a list of qualified individuals to the governor consideration, a formal

selection process will be established, replacing past practice that varied from year to year, absent a clear directive for procedure in the statute.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

90 days after it shall have become law.