What's happening
This bill changes the election schedule and term expiration dates for New York State Board of Regents members.
Why it matters
Shifts the expiration of regents’ terms from April 1 to June 30. , extending current terms by three months and realigning the end of terms with the state’s fiscal and academic calendar, which could impact continuity and planning for education policy.
Moves the annual election of regents from March to May. , potentially allowing legislators more time to consider candidates and align selections with the legislative session’s later stages.
Alters how vacancies are filled,. changing the key dates involved in special elections (from March to May), which may affect how quickly and smoothly the Board of Regents maintains full membership during transitions.
Adds flexibility for religious observances. , allowing the regents’ election to be moved up by a week in May if legislative leaders certify a scheduling conflict, which may make the process more inclusive and respectful of diverse religious practices.
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
Board of Regents members
The bill would extend the terms of regents in office on March 31, 2020, through June 30 of their expiration year and shift subsequent five-year terms to a July-to-June schedule.
Senate and Assembly members
The bill would move the deadline for electing regents by concurrent resolution from the first Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in May, with a joint ballot on the third Tuesday in May if they cannot agree.
Senate temporary president and Assembly speaker
The bill would allow them to move the joint-ballot election to the second Tuesday in May by certifying by March 1 that the later date would conflict with religious observances.
Headline styles
Set Regents Election Timeline
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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
3304
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 5, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- 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 the terms of office of the regents of the University of the State of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 202 of the education law, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 547 of the laws of 1993, subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 296 of the laws of 1984 and as designated by chapter 892 of the laws of 1985, are amended to read as follows:
1. The University of the State of New York shall be governed and all its corporate powers exercised by a board of regents the number of whose members shall at all times be four more than the number of the then existing judicial districts of the state and shall not be less than fifteen. [The regents in office April first, nineteen hundred seventyfour shall hold office, in the order of their election, for such times that the term of one such regent will expire in each year on the first day of April. Commencing April first, nineteen hundred seventy-four, each regent shall be elected for a term of seven years, each such term to expire on the first day of April.] Commencing on April first, nineteen hundred ninety-four, each regent shall be elected for a term of five years, each such term to expire on the first day of April. Regents in office March thirty-first, two thousand twenty, shall hold office until June thirtieth of the year in which such regents' term shall expire. Commencing July first, two thousand twenty, each regent shall be elected to a term of five years, each such term to expire on the last day of June. Each regent shall be elected by the legislature by concurrent resolution in the preceding [March] May, on or before the first Tuesday of such month. If, however, the legislature fails to agree on such concurrent resolution by the first Tuesday of [such month] May, then the two houses shall meet in joint session at noon on the [second]
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08482-01-9
S. 3304 2
third Tuesday of [such month] May and proceed to elect such regent by joint ballot, provided, however, that such election shall be held on the second Tuesday in May if the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly certify no later than March first that such election would conflict with religious observances.
2. All vacancies in such office, either for full or unexpired terms, shall be so filled that there shall always be in the membership of the board of regents at least one resident of each of the judicial districts. A vacancy in the office of regent for other cause than expiration of term of service shall be filled for the unexpired term by an election at the session of the legislature immediately following such vacancy in the manner prescribed in the preceding paragraph, unless the legislature is in session when such vacancy occurs, in which case the vacancy shall be filled by such legislature in the manner prescribed in the preceding paragraph, except as hereinafter provided. However, if such vacancy occurs after the [second] third Tuesday in [March] May and before a resolution to adjourn sine die has been adopted by either house, then the vacancy shall be filled by concurrent resolution, unless the legislature fails to agree on such concurrent resolution within three legislative days after its passage by one house, in which case the two houses shall meet in joint session at noon on the next legislative day and proceed to elect such regent by joint ballots; provided, however, that if the vacancy [occur] occurs after the adoption by either house of a resolution to adjourn sine die, then the vacancy shall be filled at the next session of the legislature in the manner prescribed in the preceding paragraph.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 the terms of office of the regents of the University of the State of New York
Purpose
This bill changes the timetable for election of members of the Board of Regents, moving the process out of the period of time when the Senate and Assembly are negotiating a new State budget. The amendment clarifies provision of the Legislative process for regents appointment.
Summary of provisions
The bill provides for Election of Regents on the third Tuesday in May rather than on the first Tuesday in March as provided in current law. Accordingly, terms of Regents would expire on June 30 rather than April 1 as provided under current law. Further, the terms that a Regent can serve would be reduced from seven to five years. The amendment is required to ensure that the existing cycle of Regents terms continues uninterrupted while the change of election date is implemented. The amendment makes a technical correction to accurately reflect that this bill refer to the University of the State of New York.
Justification
The Board of Regents has been the body that establishes education policy in New York State since 1784. The 16 members of the Board of Regents are elected by the Legislature. The bill calls for the election to take place on the third Tuesday in May rather than the first Tuesday in March, enabling the Legislature to consider the selection of members without time pressures that might conflict with other deadlines, such as consideration of the state budget. It provides for an alternative date if it is determined that the third Tuesday in May would conflict with religious observances. Given the critical nature and responsibility of the Board of Regents for the educational franchise of this state and the rapidly changing needs of our education system, it is essential that members of the Board of Regents be evaluated with more frequency to ensure that the people of our State are receiving their very best efforts.
Legislative history
2017-18 S.2547; 2015-16 S.216A; 2013-14 S.2030A; 2011-12 S.3384A; 2009- 2010 S.2160; S.6487-B of 2000; S.2350 of 2001-2002; S.288B of 2003-2004; 2005-2006, S.1083; 2007-2008, S.2603.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.