What's happening
This bill guarantees student organizations the right to set up informational tables outside campus buildings, with certain access and disruption limits.
Why it matters
Enhances Free Speech and Student Engagement. By explicitly protecting the right of recognized student groups to "table" outside campus buildings, the bill strengthens student free speech, fostering a more vibrant and active campus community where diverse ideas and organizations can reach peers.
Limits Administrative Discretion. The legislation reduces the ability of college or university administrations to arbitrarily limit where and how student groups can share information, potentially preventing inconsistent or unfair restrictions on certain organizations.
Balances Access with Order. The bill includes safeguards to ensure tabling does not block building access or disrupt academic functions, aiming to balance the rights of student organizations with the practical needs of the campus environment.
Could Influence Campus Culture and Policy. By setting a legal precedent, the law may encourage more student activism and organizational visibility—and could prompt changes in how campuses manage public spaces and student activities statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Campus Tabling Activities
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4578
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the right to "tabling" on a college campus
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6430 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. As used in this subdivision, "tabling" shall mean the dissemination of information through displaying literature and/or sign up sheets and verbal enticing with the possible use of a table and chairs in a public place. Any club or organization officially recognized by the student government or administration of a college or university shall not be restricted in any manner from tabling by the exterior of any building on campus as long as the tabling does not prohibit or unduly restrict the access to the building or disrupt the academic uses of the building.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03644-01-7
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.