What's happening
This bill requires SUNY, CUNY, and community colleges to create two-year college experience programs for students with developmental disabilities.
Why it matters
Expands access to post-secondary education and independent living skills for students with developmental disabilities. , integrating academic coursework with practical life and employment training, which could improve long-term outcomes for this population.
Mandates inclusive housing options as part of the experience. , requiring participating colleges to provide institution-based housing that helps students practice independent living in a supported environment, which is often a significant barrier for people with developmental disabilities.
Creates clear eligibility and funding pathways. , allowing students to use home and community-based waivers, SSI benefits, or private funds to pay for the program, which could make college more financially accessible for eligible students and their families.
Requires collaboration with the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. , ensuring that program design and implementation will be informed by expertise in supporting this community, potentially leading to more effective and responsive services.
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Who cares
Students with developmental disabilities
Eligible students would gain access to two-year programs combining practical living and employment coursework, internships and college-provided housing.
SUNY and CUNY trustees
They would have to adopt program regulations within one year of the law’s effective date and set documentation and academic proficiency requirements for admission.
SUNY and CUNY institutions and community colleges
Each would have to offer the program, including housing to prepare eligible students for independent living.
Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
The office would be consulted on program development, and eligible students could use home and community based waivers it administers to pay for participation.
Headline styles
College Access for Disabled Students
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 111
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3010
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA, WALSH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a college experience program for students with developmental disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. a. No later than one year from the effective date of this subdivision, the state university trustees shall adopt regulations to establish a two-year college experience program for students with developmental disabilities at each state university of New York institution. Each such institution shall offer such program to eligible students in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the state university trustees.
b. Such program shall consist of:
(1) an academic component related to preparing eligible students for practical living and employment and shall include coursework related to such purposes including, but not limited to, courses in cooking, personal finance, health and wellness, interpersonal communications, and internships; and
(2) a housing component related to preparing eligible students for independent living and shall include housing of eligible students in institution-provided housing.
c. To be eligible to enroll in a college experience program, a student shall:
(1) submit to the institution documentation, as determined by the state university trustees, regarding his or her developmental disability and his or her ability to live independently; and
(2) demonstrate to the institution a level of academic proficiency, as determined by the state university trustees.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06469-01-9
A. 3010 2
d. An eligible student may pay for such program through his or her home and community based waiver administered by the office for people with developmental disabilities and/or supplemental security income (SSI) benefits under the federal social security act or through private funding.
e. In developing the college experience program described in this subdivision, the state university trustees shall consult with the office for people with developmental disabilities.
§ 2. Section 6206 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. a. No later than one year from the effective date of this subdivision, the city university trustees shall adopt regulations to establish a two-year college experience program for students with developmental disabilities at each city university of New York institution. Each such institution shall offer such program to eligible students in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the city university trustees.
b. Such program shall consist of:
(1) an academic component related to preparing eligible students for practical living and employment and shall include coursework related to such purposes including, but not limited to, courses in cooking, personal finance, health and wellness, interpersonal communications, and internships; and
(2) a housing component related to preparing eligible students for independent living and shall include housing of eligible students in institution-provided housing.
c. To be eligible to enroll in a college experience program, a student shall:
(1) submit to the institution documentation, as determined by the city university trustees, regarding his or her developmental disability and his or her ability to live independently; and
(2) demonstrate to the institution a level of academic proficiency, as determined by the city university trustees.
d. An eligible student may pay for such program through his or her home and community based waiver administered by the office for people with developmental disabilities and/or supplemental security income (SSI) benefits under the federal social security act or through private funding.
e. In developing the college experience program described in this subdivision, the city university trustees shall consult with the office for people with developmental disabilities.
§ 3. Section 6303 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. a. No later than one year from the effective date of this subdivision, the state university trustees shall adopt regulations to establish a two-year college experience program for students with developmental disabilities at each community college. Each community college shall offer such program to eligible students in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the state university trustees.
b. Such program shall consist of:
(i) an academic component related to preparing eligible students for practical living and employment and shall include coursework related to such purposes including, but not limited to, courses in cooking, personal finance, health and wellness, interpersonal communications, and internships; and
A. 3010 3
(ii) a housing component related to preparing eligible students for independent living and shall include housing of eligible students in community college-provided housing.
c. To be eligible to enroll in a college experience program, a student shall:
(i) submit to the community college documentation, as determined by the state university trustees, regarding his or her developmental disability and his or her ability to live independently; and
(ii) demonstrate to the community college a level of academic proficiency, as determined by the state university trustees.
d. An eligible student may pay for such program through his or her home and community based waiver administered by the office for people with developmental disabilities and/or supplemental security income (SSI) benefits under the federal social security act or through private funding.
e. In developing the college experience program described in this subdivision, the state university trustees shall consult with the office for people with developmental disabilities.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 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.