What's happening
This bill allows New York City police officers to take two job-related courses tuition-free at CUNY or SUNY colleges.
Why it matters
Expanding tuition waivers from one to two courses per term allows police officers to pursue more professional development or degree progress without incurring additional cost, potentially making higher education more accessible and appealing.
By specifying that the courses must be related to police work, the bill aims to ensure that tuition-free education directly enhances officers’ job-relevant skills, which could improve policing quality and public safety outcomes.
The bill includes a safeguard to prevent police officers from taking course spots away from other qualified students, balancing support for law enforcement with fairness to the broader student population.
This change could help recruit and retain officers by offering a tangible educational benefit, addressing workforce needs while potentially attracting candidates interested in ongoing learning and advancement.
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Free College Courses for Cops
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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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.
Free College Courses for Police
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Martin J. Golden
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4063
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 1, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law, as added by chapter 548 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general, special or local law, rule or regulation, the board of trustees shall promulgate regulations to permit members of the New York city police department employed in the rank of police officer, who are enrolled in programs leading to baccalaureate or higher degrees at a senior college of the city university to attend [one course] two courses without tuition, provided that such [course is] courses are related to their employment as police officers and that such tuition-waived attendance does not deny course attendance at a senior college of the city university by an individual who is otherwise qualified under this section.
§ 2. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general, special or local law, rule or regulation, the state university trustees shall promulgate regulations to permit members of the New York city police department employed in the rank of police officer, who are enrolled in programs leading to baccalaureate or higher degrees at a state-operated institution in a state university, to attend two courses without tuition, provided that such courses are related to their employment as police officers and that such tuition-waived attendance does not deny
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03929-01-7
A. 4063 2
course attendance at a state-operated institution by an individual who is otherwise qualified.
§ 3. This act 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.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.