What's happening
This bill prohibits SUNY colleges from requiring students to live on campus to receive state scholarships, grants, or tuition assistance.
Why it matters
Expands student choice and flexibility. By removing on-campus residency requirements for most scholarships and aid, students can choose living arrangements that best fit their needs, such as living with family, off-campus housing, or in more affordable options.
Addresses affordability and access. The bill could make SUNY education more attainable for low-income students who might otherwise be unable to afford on-campus housing, potentially reducing student debt and financial barriers.
Limits exceptions for housing-specific aid. Scholarships or grants specifically intended to cover on-campus housing or meal plans are not affected, preserving targeted support for students who choose or need to live on campus.
Clarifies residency requirements. The bill explicitly allows SUNY schools to continue requiring New York State residency to qualify for state-based scholarships and aid, maintaining the focus on supporting state residents.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Campus Residence Requirement
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
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
1345
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. FUNKE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting on campus residency as a requirement for scholarships, grants and awards offered by the state university of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 141 to read as follows:
§ 141. Scholarships, grants and awards; campus residency requirement prohibited. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no scholarship, grant, award or any other form of tuition assistance offered by any college of the university, shall, as a condition of eligibility, require that the student receiving such scholarship, grant, award or assistance reside on campus in campus housing, except where such scholarship, grant, award or assistance is specifically designated for on-campus housing or board.
2. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any college of the university from requiring that a student be a resident of the state of New York in order to be eligible to receive a scholarship, grant, award or any other form of tuition assistance.
§ 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04179-01-7
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 prohibiting on campus residency as a requirement for scholarships, grants and awards offered by the state university of New York
Purpose
To allow students who commute to SUNY schools to be eligible for all scholarships, grants and awards that are offered by SUNY.
Summary of provisions
Adds a new section 141 to the education law which prohibits on campus residency as a requirement for scholarships, grants and awards offered by SUNY except where such scholarship, grant, award or assistance is specifically designated for on-campus house or board. However, the bill would not prohibit SUNY schools from limiting scholarships to New York State residents.
Justification
Currently students who commute to SUNY schools are not eligible for some scholarships, grants and awards because they don't live on campus. Students who are commuting deserve equal consideration for scholarships, grants and awards.
Bill history
S.4521-A of 2009-10; Referred to Education S.258-A of 2011-12; Referred to Higher Education S.1084-A / A.3361-A of 2013-14; Referred to Higher Education S.3145A of 2015-2016; Referred to Higher Education
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.