Establishes a service learning, internship or independent study program for students interested in working with individuals with developmental disabilities; mandates such program shall consist of a work component with verifiable activities related to individuals with developmental disabilities as determined by the state university trustees, and an academic component related to such activity that will be completed through either a written report or journal, or other written assignment as determined by the state university trustees.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6507
SPONSOR: Tannousis TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a service
learning, internship or independent study program for students inter-
ested in working with individuals with developmental disabilities
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this legislation is to create a service learning/ intern-
ship program for students enrolled at a state university or a community
college to receive academic credit while spending time at sheltered
workshops among individuals with developmental disabilities.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends education law by adding a new subdivision 20 in section 355.
JUSTIFICATION:
Members of the Assembly Minority Conference received numerous calls and
complaints from constituents concerning the announcement by the Governor
that sheltered workshops would be closed in order to bring New York
State into compliance with the federal Department of Justice's interpre-
tation of the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead Decision. This bill creates
a service learning/internship program for students enrolled at a state
university or a community college to receive academic credit while.
spending time at sheltered workshops among individuals with develop-
mental disabilities. This will allow sheltered workshops to remain open
by helping to create a more integrated setting.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: AS174 Held for consideration to Higher Education.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Ninetieth day after enactment provided however that, effective imme-
diately, the state university trustees are authorized and directed to
add, amend, and/or 'repeal any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6507
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 5, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. TANNOUSIS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a service
learning, internship or independent study program for students inter-
ested in working with individuals with developmental disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The United States department of justice
2 believes that people with disabilities should live and work in the "most
3 integrated setting" defined as "a setting that enables individuals with
4 disabilities to interact with non-disabled persons to the fullest extent
5 possible." In New York state, the office for people with developmental
6 disabilities is mandating that all workshop providers submit a proposal
7 outlining how they will transform the sheltered workshop either into an
8 "integrated business," a business which employs disabled and non-disa-
9 bled individuals, or how they will assist in creating transition plans
10 for every individual currently employed in the workshop. This bill
11 proposes to create a service learning, internship or independent study
12 program within state-operated institutions and community colleges to
13 allow students seeking careers aiding individuals with developmental
14 disabilities to be given academic credit and practical application at
15 sheltered workshops. In doing this, sheltered workshops will be allowed
16 to change their business models to have individuals with developmental
17 disabilities working directly with individuals without disabilities.
18 § 2. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new
19 subdivision 22 to read as follows:
20 22. The state university trustees shall adopt regulations to establish
21 a service learning, internship or independent study program for students
22 that work with individuals with developmental disabilities. Each state-
23 operated institution and community college may, as determined by its
24 president, offer such a service learning, internship or independent
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09672-01-5
A. 6507 2
1 study program to eligible students in accordance with the regulations
2 prescribed by the state university trustees. Such program shall consist
3 of: (a) a work component with verifiable activities related to individ-
4 uals with developmental disabilities as determined by the state univer-
5 sity trustees, and (b) an academic component related to such activity
6 that will be completed through either a written report or journal, or
7 other written assignment as determined by the state university trustees.
8 Such program shall be open to any student enrolled in an associate or
9 baccalaureate degree-producing program on a full-time or part-time basis
10 that is interested in pursuing a career interacting with the individuals
11 with developmental disabilities. No more than six academic credits shall
12 be awarded to a student for successful completion of such service learn-
13 ing, internship or independent study program. In developing the service
14 learning, internship or independent study program described in this
15 subdivision, the state university trustees may, in their discretion,
16 consult with the New York state office for people with developmental
17 disabilities and/or any statewide organization that represents the
18 interests of individuals with developmental disabilities.
19 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
20 have become a law. Effective immediately, the state university trustees
21 are authorized to add, amend and/or repeal any rule or regulation neces-
22 sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date.
