What's happening
This bill requires SUNY applications to ask applicants if they have ever been convicted of a violent felony offense.
Why it matters
Could influence admissions outcomes. for individuals with violent felony convictions, potentially making it more difficult for those applicants to be accepted to SUNY schools.
May deter individuals with violent felony histories. from applying to SUNY institutions at all, which could limit access to higher education for people seeking a second chance or rehabilitation.
Raises questions about privacy and fairness. , as requiring disclosure of criminal history can perpetuate stigma and create barriers that disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
Could affect campus safety policies. and how SUNY campuses assess and manage risks associated with admitting students with past violent felony convictions.
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Who cares
SUNY Board of Trustees
The board would have to adopt rules requiring every application to a state-operated institution to ask about violent felony convictions.
Admissions offices at SUNY state-operated institutions
Their applications would have to collect the offenses, conviction dates and courts for applicants reporting covered convictions.
Applicants with violent felony convictions
They would have to disclose New York violent felony convictions and convictions elsewhere in the United States for offenses containing all the essential elements of a New York violent felony.
Headline styles
Ask Applicants About Felonies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
969
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sens. YOUNG, AMEDORE, FUNKE, GALLIVAN, HELMING, RITCHIE, SEWARD, TEDISCO -- 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 directing the board of trustees of the state university to include, on every application for admission to a state-operated institution, a question on whether the applicant has been convicted of any violent felony offense
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 17-a to read as follows:
17-a. The board of trustees of the state university shall adopt rules providing that each application to admission to a state-operated institution shall require the applicant to state whether he or she has ever been convicted of a violent felony offense, as defined in subdivision one of section 70.02 of the penal law, in this state or of an offense in any other jurisdiction in the United States which includes all of the essential elements of a violent felony offense in this state. If an applicant has been convicted of such an offense, he or she shall identify the violent felony offense or offenses of which he or she was convicted, the date or dates of such conviction or convictions, and the court or courts in which such conviction or convictions were rendered.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03010-01-9
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 directing the board of trustees of the state university to include, on every application for admission to a state-operated institution, a ques- tion on whether the applicant has been convicted of any violent felony offense
Purpose or general idea of bill
Directs the board of trustees of the state university to require appli- cants to state-operated institutions to state whether they have been convicted of a violent felony.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: amends Section 355 of the Education Law by adding subdivision 17-a, to direct the board of trustees of the state university to adopt rules providing that each application to admission to a state-operated institution shall require the applicant to state whether he or she has ever been convicted of a violent felony.
Section 2: provides that the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
In September 2016, the SUNY Board of Trustees eliminated the requirement for applicants to disclose prior felony convictions on their admission applications. As the State's foremost higher education system, SUNY is entrusted with not only providing a quality, affordable education to hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, but also ensuring that students are safe while they pursue their degree. This decision hinders their ability to achieve that goal and potentially increases the likelihood that they will become victims of a crime.
Screening for violent felons is a critical aspect of the application process and is necessary to keep our students safe. Given the issues that constantly arise on college campuses, particularly with regard to sexual assault and rape, such screening is more necessary than ever. Therefore, this legislation reinstates the long-standing requirement that applicants disclose prior violent felony convictions during the admissions process.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S.155 Committed to Rules 2016: S.8192-A Committed to Rules
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.