Establishes the SUNY downstate medical support fund to provide financial support for infrastructural upgrades and expansion; facilitates research and development grants in medical and health-related fields; offers scholarships and financial aid; supports community health initiatives and outreach programs.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4549
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CUNNINGHAM, DAVILA -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to financing for SUNY
downstate medical center
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "SUNY down-
2 state medical support act".
3 § 2. Article 5 of the education law is amended by adding a new part
4 2-A to read as follows:
5 PART 2-A
6 SUNY DOWNSTATE MEDICAL SUPPORT FUND
7 Section 286. Definitions.
8 287. Establishment of the fund.
9 288. Objectives of the fund.
10 289. Capitalization of the fund.
11 289-a. Administration of the fund.
12 289-b. Oversight and accountability.
13 § 286. Definitions. As used in this part:
14 1. "Fund" refers to the SUNY downstate medical support fund.
15 2. "Institution" refers to any SUNY downstate medical center or
16 health-related institution.
17 3. "Eligible institution" refers to any institution under the state
18 university of New York (SUNY) system primarily involved in health educa-
19 tion, research, and patient care.
20 § 287. Establishment of the fund. 1. There is hereby established a
21 special fund to be known as the "SUNY downstate medical support fund".
22 2. The fund shall consist of monies raised through the issuance of
23 bonds as otherwise authorized by law, grants from any governmental unit,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06575-01-5
A. 4549 2
1 and any additional appropriations as set forth in section two hundred
2 eighty-nine of this part.
3 § 288. Objectives of the fund. The fund shall be dedicated to:
4 1. Providing financial support to eligible institutions for infras-
5 tructural upgrades and expansion;
6 2. Facilitating research and development grants in medical and health-
7 related fields;
8 3. Offering scholarships and financial aid to students attending
9 eligible institutions; and
10 4. Supporting community health initiatives and outreach programs led
11 by eligible institutions.
12 § 289. Capitalization of the fund. 1. The initial capitalization of
13 the fund shall be attained through the issuance of revenue bonds by the
14 state treasury.
15 2. Bonds shall be tax-exempt to encourage investments by individual
16 and institutional investors.
17 3. The state shall pledge to allocate a portion of annual budgetary
18 surpluses to the fund to ensure its growth and sustainability, subject
19 to legislative appropriation.
20 § 289-a. Administration of the fund. 1. The fund shall be administered
21 by a board consisting of the chancellor of the state university, the
22 president of SUNY downstate medical center, and three additional members
23 appointed by the governor, with advice and consent from the legislature.
24 2. The board shall meet quarterly to review the performance of the
25 fund, authorize disbursements, and ensure compliance with the objectives
26 of this part.
27 3. An annual report shall be submitted to the legislature detailing
28 the fund's activities, financial health, and contributions to the eligi-
29 ble institutions.
30 § 289-b. Oversight and accountability. 1. The management of the fund
31 shall be subject to oversight by the legislative higher education
32 committees.
33 2. The oversight committees shall conduct a joint annual audit to
34 ensure proper use of the fund's resources.
35 § 3. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision,
36 section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent
37 jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or
38 invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation
39 to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part thereof
40 directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have
41 been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the legislature
42 that this act would have been enacted even if such invalid provisions
43 had not been included herein.
44 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
