What's happening
This bill creates a temporary commission to study and recommend whether all SUNY community colleges should participate in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
Why it matters
Addresses disparities in student support. The commission will examine why 12 out of 30 SUNY community colleges do not offer the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which provides essential financial and academic support to disadvantaged students—potentially impacting educational equity across New York State.
Considers transfer student eligibility. The commission is tasked with evaluating whether current rules may unintentionally penalize community college students who want to transfer to four-year institutions and benefit from EOP/HEOP, possibly affecting their access to additional support.
Influences future policy and funding. By studying the need for all SUNY community colleges to participate in EOP, the commission’s recommendations could lead to expanded access and increased state investment in support programs for students from low-income backgrounds.
Gathers expert and public input. The commission will include members with higher education expertise and can hold public hearings, allowing for broad input from stakeholders—including students, educators, and advocates—on the future of educational opportunity in the state.
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
Study Community College EOP Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2922
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER, L. ROSENTHAL, ORTIZ, SIMON, COOK, D'URSO, BICHOTTE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT relating to creating the commission on affordable college education to study the participation of community colleges in the educational opportunity program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby acknowledges the need for a college education to compete in today's market. Furthermore, residents throughout New York state are in need of more affordable higher education options. Currently, twelve out of the thirty SUNY community colleges do not participate in the Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), which provide vital financial and academic support for thousands of academic and economically disadvantaged New Yorkers throughout the state. Subsequently, community college students from those twelve two-year colleges, who seek to transfer into a four-year school as Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) or EOP applicants risk potentially disqualifying themselves for such financial and academic support programs.
§ 2. A temporary state commission, to be known as the "commission on affordable college education", is hereby established to examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the need for the twelve SUNY community colleges to participate in EOP. The commission shall consider the need for additional legislation to amend current eligibility criteria for transfer students.
§ 3. The commission shall consist of thirteen members, to be appointed as follows: three members to be appointed by the governor; three members to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; three members to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; two members to be
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00179-01-9
A. 2922 2
appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members to be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The members shall have demonstrated expertise in and experience in the field of higher education, HEOP, or EOP. A chairperson and vice-chairperson of such commission shall be elected by the majority of its members, all members being present.
§ 4. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
§ 5. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions. Such commission may meet and hold public and/or private hearings within or without the state, and shall have all the powers of a legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law.
§ 6. For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission shall be authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses it may deem relevant in cooperation with or by agreement with any other public or private agency.
§ 7. The commission shall make a report of its findings, including any recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and appropriate, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than one year after the effective date of this act.
§ 8. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after such date.
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.