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Sponsors
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History
- Referred to higher education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.918
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Relates to certain tuition waivers for police officer students of the city university of New York and SUNY
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Joseph Lentol
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to certain tuition waivers for police officer students of the city university of New York and the state university of New York; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon the expiration thereof
Purpose
To allow police officers employed by the New York City Police Department to attend two courses without tuition at a senior college of the City University System or at a State University of New York.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends paragraph (c) to subdivision 7 of Education Law section 6206 to require the trustees of the City University of New York ("CUNY") to promulgate regulations that would afford police officers employed by the New York City Police Department ("NYPD") who are enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree to attend two courses without tuition, provided that such attendance does not deny course attendance by another person who is otherwise qualified under section 6206.
Read the full memo (648 words)
Section 2 of this bill amends Education Law section 355 by adding a new subdivision 20 to require the trustees of the State University of New York ("SUNY") to promulgate regulations that would afford police officers employed by NYPD who are enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree to attend two courses without tuition, provided that such attendance does not deny course attendance by another person who is otherwise qualified.
Section 3 of the bill provides that this bill shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 548 of the laws of 2004, as amended, is repealed.
Existing law
Currently, police officers employed by NYPD who are enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree are afforded the opportunity to attend one tuition-free course at CUNY.
Justification
As our city and state have become more diverse and law enforcement's responsibilities have continued to expand, police officers today are required to meet a variety of new challenges, including terrorism, evolving technology, and the need to adapt to the ever-changing laws they enforce.
It has long been the view of experts and academics that a more educated police officer is better equipped to meet the variety of challenges. For example, in 1987 the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Police Management and Personnel Policy made the recommendation that individuals with college educations be provided with preferential points on the written entrance exam. The Committee based its recommendation on the premise that college education "is a valid predictor of training potential" and that it "develops the reasoning ability of individuals, a skill that contributes to good judgment-perhaps the most essential ingredient for a good police officer." (p. 32).
More recently, in May 2015 President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing, recommended, as one of its "pillars" to effective policing, Increased officer education and training ("The skills and knowledge required to effectively deal with these issues requires a higher level of education as well as extensive and ongoing training in specific disciplines.") (p. 51, emphasis added). Specifically, the Task Force recommended, in relevant part: "The Federal Government. as well as state and local agencies, should encourage and incentivize higher education for law enforcement officers. While many believe that a higher level of required education could raise the quality of officer performance, law enforcement also benefits from a diverse range of officers who bring their cultures, languages, and life experiences to policing." (p. 59, emphasis added).
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None to the State
Effective date
This bill shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 548 of the laws of 2004, as amended, is repealed.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.