What's happening
This bill establishes the Higher Education Community Service Act to promote, recognize, and coordinate volunteer service by college students in New York.
Why it matters
Creates a statewide structure to promote volunteerism among college students. , meaning that campuses would have systematic processes to encourage and recognize student-led community service—potentially boosting both student civic engagement and the capacity of nonprofits/social programs.
Establishes incentives and formal recognition for student volunteers. , which could motivate more students to participate in meaningful service projects and help students build resumes, networks, and practical skills valued by employers and graduate programs.
Forms a dedicated council and foundation to coordinate, fund, and evaluate service programs. , providing oversight, accountability, and sustained resources for community service initiatives—this could lead to more consistent, high-quality opportunities and better outcomes for both students and communities.
Facilitates stronger partnerships between colleges and their local communities. , including integrating service into academic curricula and improving information-sharing about volunteer opportunities—helping align higher education with local needs and fostering a culture of civic responsibility among young adults.
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Who cares
College students
The bill would promote recognition and incentives for volunteer service, connect students with community projects and reserve two council seats for students.
SUNY, CUNY and independent colleges and universities
The bill would involve their leaders in developing volunteer connections and create a statewide center to help integrate community service into curricula.
Not-for-profit community organizations
The bill would promote connections with student volunteers and establish a foundation to receive private funds supporting community service activities.
State Education Department
The bill would establish an eleven-member council within the department to oversee a statewide community service center and report annually on implementation.
Headline styles
Promote College Student Volunteering
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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.
Boost College Student Volunteering
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Toby Ann Stavisky
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4607
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, RIVERA, SCHIMMINGER, ORTIZ, GUNTHER, MOYA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CURRAN, CYMBROWITZ, GALEF, HOOPER, MAGEE, PERRY, WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "higher education community service act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds and declares that the American tradition of volunteer community service is essential to the common good and is vital to the success of not-forprofit agencies, institutions and organizations dealing with a vast array of critical social problems. It recognizes growing support for the idea that postsecondary students should receive recognition for substantial commitment to volunteer service, and should be given greater encouragement to participate in volunteer community service activities. Volunteers and volunteer programs should be praised for their efforts in helping and serving others, which result in changes in the way the community views young people and in the way young people view their responsibilities to the community.
The legislature further declares its desire to promote further integration of community service at institutions of higher education by encouraging student-initiated and student-designated community service projects.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 319 to read as follows:
§ 319. Higher education community service act. 1. Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "higher education community service act".
2. Establishment of higher education community service act. There is hereby established a higher education community service act for the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03648-01-7
A. 4607 2
purpose of promoting and recognizing volunteer service involvement by students in higher education. Activities conducted under the higher education community service act shall include:
a. a campus based screening process to identify and nominate successful and promising community service projects and initiatives for recognition;
b. identification of existing quality community service programs, projects and initiatives involving postsecondary students that produce a sense of social responsibility and commitment to the community;
c. incentives for institutions of higher education, students and other members of the college community to participate in long term community service programs;
d. encouragement of institutions to formulate a systematic process to disseminate information concerning prospective volunteer projects to the participants of general volunteer programs on or off campus;
e. establishment of a foundation to receive private funds to be used to promote a wide variety of service related projects. Private funds shall include, but not be limited to donations, grants and fundraisers; and
f. establishment of a three-year program of implementation, including pilot programs and ongoing review and evaluation.
3. Establishment of volunteer connections. The commissioner, in consultation with the chancellor of the state university, the chancellor of the city university of New York and the president of the commission on independent colleges and universities shall develop a program to establish effective volunteer connections between institutions of higher education and their respective communities.
4. Council for higher education community service. a. A council for higher education community service shall be established within the department for the purpose of conducting activities pursuant to this section. The council shall be composed of eleven members, one of whom shall be the commissioner, ex officio, and ten of whom shall be appointed by the governor: two on the recommendation of the temporary president of the senate, two on the recommendation of the speaker of the assembly, one on the recommendation of the minority leader of the senate, and one on the recommendation of the minority leader of the assembly. Such members shall include representatives of the state university, city university of New York, the independent colleges and universities of New York and the New York campus compact. Two of the council members shall be students, selected by the governor. The council shall select from among its appointed members a chair and vice chair who shall serve in office for terms of one year and who shall be eligible for reelection for successive terms.
b. The council shall oversee the creation of a statewide postsecondary community service center to disseminate information regarding existing volunteer activities, make volunteer connections between students and the communities, integrate public and community service into the curriculum, provide guidance and coordination, monitor and evaluate volunteer programs and activities and promote the continuation of public and community service.
c. The council shall meet at least four times each year. Members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed by the higher education community service foundation for reasonable expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties pursuant to this section.
A. 4607 3
d. The council shall report by September first each year to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on the progress of implementation of this section, with recommendations for future activities.
5. Petitioning by council. The council shall, within ninety days of its appointment, petition the regents to incorporate as a private, notfor-profit education corporation under this chapter, the New York foundation for higher education community service, to receive funds to be used as requested by the council to support and administer activities authorized in this section, and other projects that encourage and assist community service activities.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
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.