What's happening
This bill mandates that the New York State Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute for Nonviolence be located at Medgar Evers College within CUNY.
Why it matters
Anchoring the Institute to a Historically Significant College. By locating the Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute for Nonviolence at Medgar Evers College—a CUNY school named after another major civil rights leader—the bill symbolically strengthens New York’s commitment to nonviolence and social justice in an institution already dedicated to Black history and activism.
Shifting Oversight from SUNY to CUNY. The amendment replaces the SUNY chancellor with the CUNY chancellor on the Institute's board, signaling a new administrative home and potentially altering the Institute’s access to resources, networks, and influence within New York City’s public higher education system.
Potential for Enhanced Community Impact. Medgar Evers College is located in Brooklyn, a diverse and historically underserved area. The Institute’s presence there could increase community engagement, educational programming, and outreach opportunities in nonviolence and civil rights, potentially making the Institute more accessible and relevant to urban communities.
Maintaining Ethical and Governance Standards. The bill keeps strong conflict-of-interest rules and professional conduct standards for the Institute’s directors, which helps ensure continued public trust and accountability as the Institute transitions to its new location and leadership structure.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Put MLK Institute at Medgar Evers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
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.
MLK Institute Moves to Medgar
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Walter T. Mosley
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3255
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the siting of the New York state Martin Luther King, Jr. institute for nonviolence at Medgar Evers college
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 323 of the executive law, as added by chapter 513 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
4. To establish such divisions, programs, schools, and offices as the board deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this article; provided that the principal offices and programs of the institute shall be located at Medgar Evers college within the city university of New York;
§ 2. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 and subdivision 7 of section 322 of the executive law, as added by chapter 513 of the laws of 1988, are amended to read as follows:
There is hereby created the New York state Martin Luther King, Jr. institute for nonviolence. The institute shall be a public corporation and its membership shall consist of thirteen members as follows: the chancellor of the [state] city university of New York, the commissioner of education of the state of New York, the chairperson of the New York state Martin Luther King, Jr. commission, and ten members to be appointed by the governor. Of the members appointed by the governor, one shall be a member of the New York state senate appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the majority leader, one shall be a member of the New York state senate appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the minority leader, one shall be a member of the New York state assembly appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the speaker of the assembly, one shall be a member of the New York state assembly appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the minority leader;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04023-01-7
S. 3255 2
and six shall be members appointed by the governor, no more than three of whom may be members of the same political party.
7. Directors other than the chancellor of the [state] city university of New York and the commissioner of education of the state of New York may engage in private employment, or in a profession or business. The corporation, its directors, officers and employees shall be subject to the provisions of sections seventy-three and seventy-four of the public officers law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July 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 executive law, in relation to the siting of the New York state Martin Luther King, Jr. institute for nonviolence at Medgar Evers college
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to permit the siting of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute for Nonviolence at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: amends subdivision 4 of section 323 of the executive law to read:
To establish such divisions, programs, schools, and offices as the board deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this article; provided that the principal offices and programs of the Institute shall be located at Medgar Evers College within the City University of New York.
Justification
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute for Nonviolence was established in 1988. Governor Mario Cuomo signed it into law as a means to promote the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, in order to create a more tolerant society.
The Institute encompassed a thirteen member board, with ten appointments made by the Governor, and the additional three including the chancellor of the State University of New York, the commissioner of education of the State of New York and chairperson of the New York State Martin Luther King, Jr. commission. The Pataki administration eliminated funding for the Institute in 1995.
This legislation will permit Medgar Evers College to revive the Martin Luther King, Jr Institute for Nonviolence in recognition of the continued need to foster racial and cultural tolerance in our state. Named for influential civil rights leader Medgar Wiley Evers, Medgar Evers College, under the acclaimed leadership of Dr. Edison 0. Jackson, is an ideal location to continue the original mission of the Institute.
The college is equipped with ample experience and resources in the area of social justice and an accomplished faculty who embody the philosophy of the Rev. Dr. King. One of the core missions of the college is to uphold the legacy of its namesake through commitment to the educational empowerment of the African Diaspora, thereby fostering a more equitable society consistent with Dr. King's vision. For these reasons, it is appropriate that Medgar Evers College serve as the host institution for the Institute.
Legislative history
S.1887 (2015-16) - Referred to Finance S.6273 (2014) - Referred to Finance S.2823 (2013) - Referred to Finance S.3984 (2012) - Referred to Finance S.1798 (2010) - Referred to Finance
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of July 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.