What's happening
This bill allows New York residents aged 65 or older to take up to nine SUNY or CUNY credit hours per semester tuition-free.
Why it matters
Expands educational access for older adults. , enabling lifelong learning and skill development for New Yorkers aged 65+, which can enhance social engagement, mental health, and employment opportunities for seniors.
Potentially increases classroom diversity and intergenerational interaction. , as older students bring different perspectives and life experience, enriching discussions and learning for all students.
May impact university resources and enrollment management. , as SUNY and CUNY institutions would need to accommodate additional students in for-credit courses without tuition revenue, possibly affecting course availability and funding structures.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Free College for Seniors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 17
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–2
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.968
- Print number 1110a
- Amend (t) and recommit to higher education
- Referred to higher education
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to higher education
Show 6 earlier actions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–1
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.100
- 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 Classes for Seniors
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor William Magnarelli
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1110--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sens. FELDER, CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing persons over age sixty-five to enroll in a limited number of SUNY or CUNY credit hours without tuition
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education law, as separately amended by chapters 552 and 616 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general, special or local law, rule or regulation, such regulations may permit persons sixty years of age or over to audit courses given therein without tuition, examination, grading or credit therefor upon a space available basis, as determined by the president of each such institution, provided that such audit attendance does not deny course attendance at a state-operated institution by an individual who is otherwise qualified under the regulations promulgated pursuant to this section. For purposes of this section, persons sixty-five years of age or over who are residents of the state shall be eligible to take not more than nine credit hours of courses for credit per semester without tuition.
§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law, as added by chapter 344 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general, special or local law, rule or regulation, the board of trustees may permit persons sixty years of age or over to audit courses given therein without tuition, examination, grading or credit therefor upon a space available
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00576-02-8
S. 1110--A 2
basis, as determined by the president of each such institution, provided that such audit attendance does not deny course attendance at the city university of New York by an individual who is otherwise qualified under this section. For purposes of this section, persons sixty-five years of age or over who are residents of the state shall be eligible to take not more than nine credit hours of courses for credit per semester without tuition.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of April 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing persons over age sixty-five to enroll in a limited number of SUNY or CUNY credit hours without tuition
Purpose
This bill will permit persons over the age of sixty-five to take courses for credit, on a space-available basis, without charge, at State Univer- sity of New York and.City University of New York campuses.
Summary of provisions
Amends S 355 of the Education Law to allow persons over sixty-five years of age to receive up to a maximum of nine credit hours per semester for courses taken at the State University of New York at no charge, on a space available basis.
Amends § 6206 of the Education Law to allow persons over sixty-five years of age to receive up to a maximum of nine credit hours per semes- ter for courses taken at the City University of New York at no charge, on a space available basis.
Justification
In 1974, New York State adopted Chapter 1002 of the Laws of 1974 permit- ting persons over the age of sixty to audit courses at the State Univer- sity without tuition, examination or credit, on a space available basis.
On approving that legislation, the Governor noted that, "Education can be a major factor in helping older people maintain their mental alert- ness, (and) continue active participation in the affairs of their commu- nities. In many instances, however, financial and formal educational barriers have rendered such education opportunity inaccessible."
Although the 1974 law began an important step forward, senior citizens have so far been denied the opportunity under this program to further their education on a for-credit basis. This bill would extend to persons age sixty-five and over the ability to attend courses at no charge at the State University, on a space-available basis, while receiving credit for their course work.
This is a logical continuation of our efforts to integrate our older collegians fully into the mainstream of academic life.
Not only will older students benefit from fully participating in the courses offered at both the State University of New York and the City University of New York, they will bring a broad range of lifetime expe- riences to the classroom, thereby enriching the education of all students.
Legislative history
2016: S.3807 - Passed Senate 2017: S.1110 - Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
There is no direct fiscal impact, because all attendance would be on a space-available basis.
Effective date
April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.