STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
331
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Higher Education
AN ACT relating to creating the commission on affordable college educa-
tion to study the participation of community colleges in the educa-
tional opportunity program; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby acknowledges
2 the need for a college education to compete in today's market. Further-
3 more, residents throughout New York state are in need of more affordable
4 higher education options. Currently, twelve out of the thirty SUNY
5 community colleges do not participate in the Educational Opportunity
6 Programs (EOP), which provide vital financial and academic support for
7 thousands of academic and economically disadvantaged New Yorkers
8 throughout the state. Subsequently, community college students from
9 those twelve two-year colleges, who seek to transfer into a four-year
10 school as Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) or EOP applicants
11 risk potentially disqualifying themselves for such financial and academ-
12 ic support programs.
13 § 2. A temporary state commission, to be known as the "commission on
14 affordable college education", is hereby established to examine, evalu-
15 ate and make recommendations concerning the need for the twelve SUNY
16 community colleges to participate in EOP. The commission shall consider
17 the need for additional legislation to amend current eligibility crite-
18 ria for transfer students.
19 § 3. The commission shall consist of thirteen members, to be appointed
20 as follows: three members to be appointed by the governor; three members
21 to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; three members
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00199-01-5
S. 331 2
1 to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; two members to be
2 appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members to be
3 appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The members shall have
4 demonstrated expertise in and experience in the field of higher educa-
5 tion, HEOP, or EOP. A chairperson and vice-chairperson of such commis-
6 sion shall be elected by the majority of its members, all members being
7 present.
8 § 4. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
9 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
10 incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
11 § 5. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel
12 as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions. Such
13 commission may meet and hold public and/or private hearings within or
14 without the state, and shall have all the powers of a legislative
15 committee pursuant to the legislative law.
16 § 6. For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission shall be
17 authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or
18 analyses it may deem relevant in cooperation with or by agreement with
19 any other public or private agency.
20 § 7. The commission shall make a report of its findings, including any
21 recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and
22 appropriate, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and
23 the speaker of the assembly no later than one year after the effective
24 date of this act.
25 § 8. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
26 become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after
27 such date.
