Provides for the adjustment of stipends of certain incumbents in the state university of New York and designating moneys therefor; continues a doctoral program recruitment and retention enhancement fund; continues work-life services and pre-tax programs; continues a professional development committee; continues a comprehensive college graduate program recruitment and retention fund; continues a fee mitigation fund; continues a downstate location fund; continues a joint labor management advisory board; continues an accidental death benefit; makes an appropriation therefor.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8383
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 6, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. STAVISKY -- (at request of the Governor) -- read
twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the
Committee on Finance
AN ACT to provide for the adjustment of stipends of certain incumbents
in the state university of New York and designating moneys therefor;
to continue a doctoral program recruitment and retention enhancement
fund; to continue work-life services and pre-tax programs; to continue
a professional development committee; to continue a comprehensive
college graduate program recruitment and retention fund; to continue a
fee mitigation fund; to continue a downstate location fund; to contin-
ue a joint labor management advisory board; to continue an accidental
death benefit; and making an appropriation therefor
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Adjustment to stipends of certain incumbents in the state
2 university of New York. (a) The stipend as of academic year 2023-2024
3 for an incumbent of a position in the state university of New York in
4 the collective negotiating unit designated as the state university grad-
5 uate student negotiating unit in the state university of New York estab-
6 lished pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law, on September 30,
7 2023, shall be increased by three percent adjusted to the nearest whole
8 dollar, commencing the beginning of the payroll period the first day of
9 which is nearest to October 1, 2023. "Incumbent," as referenced in this
10 subdivision, shall be defined as members of the state university gradu-
11 ate student negotiating unit established pursuant to article 14 of the
12 civil service law who were employed by the state university of New York
13 on the effective date of the increase and at the time of payment.
14 (b) The stipend as of academic year 2024-2025 for an incumbent of a
15 position in the state university of New York in the collective negotiat-
16 ing unit designated as the state university graduate student negotiating
17 unit in the state university of New York established pursuant to article
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD12015-02-5
S. 8383 2
1 14 of the civil service law, on September 30, 2024, shall be increased
2 by three percent adjusted to the nearest whole dollar, commencing the
3 beginning of the payroll period the first day of which is nearest to
4 October 1, 2024. "Incumbent," as referenced in this subdivision, shall
5 be defined as members of the state university graduate student negotiat-
6 ing unit established pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law who
7 were employed by the state university of New York on the effective date
8 of the increase and at the time of payment.
9 (c) The stipend as of academic year 2025-2026 for an incumbent of a
10 position in the state university of New York in the collective negotiat-
11 ing unit designated as the state university graduate student negotiating
12 unit in the state university of New York established pursuant to article
13 14 of the civil service law, on September 30, 2025, shall be increased
14 by three percent adjusted to the nearest whole dollar, commencing the
15 beginning of the payroll period the first day of which is nearest to
16 October 1, 2025. "Incumbent," as referenced in this subdivision, shall
17 be defined as members of the state university graduate student negotiat-
18 ing unit established pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law who
19 were employed by the state university of New York on the effective date
20 of the increase and at the time of payment.
21 (d) (i) This subdivision shall apply to employees in the collective
22 negotiating unit designated as the state university graduate student
23 negotiating unit in the state university of New York established pursu-
24 ant to article 14 of the civil service law.
25 (ii) The minimum stipend for academic year 2023-2024 shall increase by
26 three percent to $11,102 annually for employees on full assistantships
27 at University Centers and Health Science Centers effective concurrent
28 with the effective date of the increase in subdivision (a) of this
29 section commencing the beginning of the payroll period the first day of
30 which is nearest to October 1, 2023.
31 (iii) The minimum stipend for academic year 2024-2025 shall increase
32 by three percent to $11,435 annually for employees on full assistant-
33 ships at University Centers and Health Science Centers effective concur-
34 rent with the effective date of the increase in subdivision (b) of this
35 section commencing the beginning of the payroll period the first day of
36 which is nearest to October 1, 2024.
37 (iv) The minimum stipend for academic year 2025-2026 shall increase by
38 three percent to be $11,778 annually for employees on full assistant-
39 ships at University Centers and Health Science Centers effective concur-
40 rent with the effective date of the increase in subdivision (c) of this
41 section commencing the beginning of the payroll period the first day of
42 which is nearest to October 1, 2025.
43 (v) Effective July 1, 2026, the minimum annual stipend shall be
44 $18,000 for employees on full assistantships at university center
45 campuses and health science centers. Effective July 1, 2026, the mini-
46 mum annual stipend shall be $7,500 for employees on full assistantships
47 at comprehensive college campuses.
48 (vi) Effective October 1, 2025, the state shall pay those with full-
49 time assistantships a total of a lump sum, non-recurring, not on base
50 payment of $1,500. Individuals on less than full-time assistantships
51 shall be paid $750. To be eligible for payment, an individual must be
52 employed as of the effective date of the payment and the date of
53 payment.
54 (vii) Nothing herein shall prevent the state university of New York,
55 in its discretion, from increasing amounts paid to an incumbent of a
56 position of the state university graduate student negotiating unit in
S. 8383 3
1 the state university of New York established pursuant to article 14 of
2 the civil service law in addition to the minimum stipend provided,
3 however, that the amounts required for such other increases and the cost
4 of fringe benefits attributable to such other increases, as determined
5 by the comptroller, are made available to the state in accordance with
6 procedures established by the state university of New York.
7 (e) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this section,
8 any increase in compensation or lump sum payment may be withheld in
9 whole or in part from any employee to whom the provisions of this
10 section are applicable when, in the opinion of the chancellor of the
11 state university of New York, the director of the budget, and the direc-
12 tor of the office of employee relations, such increase is not warranted
13 or is not appropriate.
14 § 2. Doctoral program recruitment and retention enhancement fund.
15 There is hereby continued, within the state university of New York, a
16 doctoral program recruitment and retention enhancement fund from the
17 amounts appropriated herein. Such fund shall be used to enhance employee
18 compensation for the purpose of recruitment and retention of new and
19 existing doctoral students in selected programs. The specific doctoral
20 programs eligible for enhanced compensation pursuant to this section
21 shall be at the discretion of the state university of New York. Pursuant
22 to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, funds will be allo-
23 cated for these purposes upon mutual agreement of the parties from
24 available appropriations. To be eligible for such payment, an employee
25 must be employed on or after July 2, 2023 and at the time of payment.
26 This program shall expire July 1, 2026.
27 § 3. Comprehensive college graduate program recruitment and retention
28 fund. There is hereby continued, within the state university of New
29 York, a comprehensive college graduate program recruitment and retention
30 fund from the amounts appropriated herein. Such fund shall be used to
31 enhance employee compensation for the purpose of recruitment and
32 retention of new and existing graduate students in selected degree
33 programs. The specific graduate degree programs eligible for enhanced
34 compensation pursuant to this section shall be at the discretion of the
35 state university of New York. Pursuant to the terms of the collective
36 bargaining agreement, funds will be allocated for these purposes upon
37 mutual agreement of the parties from available appropriations. To be
38 eligible for such payment, an employee must be employed on or after July
39 2, 2023 and at the time of payment. This program shall expire July 1,
40 2026.
41 § 4. Fee mitigation fund. There is hereby continued, within the state
42 university of New York, a fee mitigation fund from the amounts appropri-
43 ated herein. Such fund shall be used for the purpose of funding the cost
44 of various fees, including but not limited to technology fees. Pursuant
45 to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, funds will be allo-
46 cated for these purposes upon mutual agreement of the parties from
47 available appropriations. To be eligible for such payment, an employee
48 must be employed on or after July 2, 2023 and at the time of payment.
49 This program shall expire July 1, 2026.
50 § 5. Downstate location fund. There is hereby continued, within the
51 state university of New York, a downstate location fund from the amounts
52 appropriated herein. Such fund shall be used for the purpose of funding
53 location adjustments in the downstate area for employees whose work site
54 is New York City, Suffolk, Nassau, Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess,
55 Putnam or Orange counties or as defined by the parties by agreement. The
56 specific location adjustments funded pursuant to this section shall be
S. 8383 4
1 at the discretion of the state university of New York. Pursuant to the
2 terms of the collective bargaining agreement, funds will be allocated
3 for these purposes upon mutual agreement of the parties from available
4 appropriations. To be eligible for such payment, an employee must be
5 employed on or after July 2, 2023 and at the time of payment. This
6 program shall expire July 1, 2026.
7 § 6. Joint labor management advisory board. Pursuant to the terms of
8 an agreement negotiated between the state and the employee organization
9 representing employees in the collective negotiating unit designated as
10 the state university graduate student negotiating unit in the state
11 university of New York established pursuant to article 14 of the civil
12 service law, there shall be continued a joint labor management advisory
13 board to study and make recommendations concerning issues of work-life
14 services programs and implement agreements that may be entered into
15 between the state and such employee organization concerning such issues.
16 Pursuant to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, funds will
17 be allocated for these purposes upon mutual agreement of the parties
18 from available appropriations.
19 § 7. Work-life services and pre-tax programs. Pursuant to the terms of
20 an agreement negotiated between the state and the employee organization
21 representing the collective negotiating unit designated as the state
22 university graduate student negotiating unit in the state university of
23 New York established pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law,
24 there shall be continued work-life services and pre-tax programs to be
25 administered in accordance with such agreement within the appropriations
26 made available therefor. Pursuant to the terms of the collective
27 bargaining agreement, funds will be allocated for these purposes upon
28 mutual agreement of the parties from available appropriations. This
29 program shall expire July 1, 2026.
30 § 8. Professional development committee. Pursuant to the terms of an
31 agreement negotiated between the state and the employee organization
32 representing the collective negotiating unit designated as the state
33 university graduate student negotiating unit in the state university of
34 New York established pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law,
35 there shall be continued a professional development committee to review,
36 make recommendations and implement programs for professional develop-
37 ment. Such program shall be administered in accordance with such agree-
38 ment within the appropriations made available therefor. Pursuant to the
39 terms of the collective bargaining agreement, these funds may be reallo-
40 cated for use by other joint committees upon mutual agreement of the
41 parties. This program shall expire July 1, 2026.
42 § 9. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the appro-
43 priations contained in this act shall be available to the state for the
44 payment of grievance and arbitration settlements and awards provided for
45 in the collective negotiating agreement between the state and employee
46 organization representing the collective negotiating unit designated as
47 the state university graduate student negotiating unit in the state
48 university of New York established pursuant to article 14 of the civil
49 service law.
50 § 10. Accidental death benefit. Pursuant to the terms of an agreement
51 negotiated between the state and the employee organization representing
52 the collective negotiating unit designated as the state university grad-
53 uate student negotiating unit in the state university of New York estab-
54 lished pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law, there shall
55 continue to be a death benefit in the amount of fifty thousand dollars,
56 in the event an employee dies on or after July 2, 2007 as the result of
S. 8383 5
1 an accidental on-the-job injury and a death benefit is paid pursuant to
2 the workers' compensation law, payable by the state to the employee's
3 surviving spouse and children to whom the workers' compensation acci-
4 dental death benefit is paid, or to the employee's estate, and in the
5 same proportion as the workers' compensation accidental death benefit is
6 paid. Such program shall be administered in accordance with such agree-
7 ment within the appropriations made available therefor.
8 § 11. Stipend increases and benefit modifications. The stipend
9 increases and benefit modifications provided for by this act for state
10 employees and any incumbent, as defined by section one of this act, in
11 the collective negotiating unit designated as the state university grad-
12 uate student negotiating unit in the state university of New York estab-
13 lished pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law shall not be
14 implemented until the director of the governor's office of employee
15 relations has delivered to the director of the budget and the comp-
16 troller a letter certifying that there is in effect with respect to such
17 negotiating unit a collective negotiating agreement which provides for
18 such increases and modifications and which is ratified and fully
19 executed in writing with the state pursuant to article 14 of the civil
20 service law.
21 § 12. Date of entitlement to stipend increase. Notwithstanding the
22 provisions of this act or of any other provision of law to the contrary,
23 the stipend increase of any incumbent, as defined by section one of this
24 act, of the collective negotiating unit designated as the state univer-
25 sity graduate student negotiating unit in the state university of New
26 York established pursuant to article 14 of the civil service law, as
27 provided by this act, shall be added to the stipend of such incumbent at
28 the beginning of the payroll period the first day of which is nearest to
29 the effective date of such increase as provided in this act, or at the
30 beginning of the earlier of two payroll periods the first days of which
31 are nearest but equally near to the effective date of such increase as
32 provided in this act; provided, however, that for the purposes of deter-
33 mining the stipend of such employee upon reclassification, reallocation,
34 appointment, promotion, transfer, demotion, reinstatement or other
35 change of status, such stipend increase shall be deemed to be effective
36 on the date thereof as prescribed by this act, and the payment thereof
37 pursuant to this section on a date prior thereto, instead of on such
38 effective date, shall not operate to confer any additional compensation
39 rights or benefits on such employee. Payment of such stipend increase
40 may be deferred pursuant to section thirteen of this act.
41 § 13. Deferred payment of stipend increase. Notwithstanding the
42 provisions of this act, or of any other provision of law to the contra-
43 ry, pending payment of stipends pursuant to this act for any incumbent,
44 as defined by section one of this act, of positions subject to this act,
45 such incumbent shall receive, as partial compensation for services
46 rendered, the stipends otherwise payable in their respective position.
47 An incumbent, as defined by section one of this act, holding a position
48 subject to this act at any time during the period from July 2, 2023,
49 until the time when stipend increases are first paid pursuant to this
50 act for such services in excess of the compensation actually received
51 therefor, shall be entitled to a lump sum payment for the difference
52 between the stipend to which such incumbent is entitled for such service
53 and the stipend actually received therefor. Such lump sum payment shall
54 be made as soon as practicable.
55 § 14. Use of appropriations. Notwithstanding any provision of the
56 state finance law or any other provision of law to the contrary, the
S. 8383 6
1 state comptroller is authorized to pay any amounts required by the fore-
2 going provisions of this act. To the extent that existing appropriations
3 available to any state department or agency in any fund are insufficient
4 to accomplish the purposes set forth in this section, the director of
5 the budget is authorized to allocate to the various departments and
6 agencies, from any appropriations available in any fund, the amounts
7 necessary to make such payments. Any appropriations or other funds
8 available to any state department or agency for personal service or for
9 other related employee benefits during the fiscal year commencing April
10 1, 2025 shall be available for the payment of any liabilities or obli-
11 gations incurred pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this act,
12 whether occurring prior to or during the state fiscal year commencing
13 April 1, 2025.
14 § 15. Notwithstanding any provision of the state finance law or any
15 other provision of law to the contrary, the sum of $30,200,000 is hereby
16 appropriated in the general fund/state purposes account (10050) in
17 miscellaneous-all state departments and agencies solely for
18 apportionment/transfer by the director of the budget for use by any
19 state department or agency in any fund for the fiscal year beginning
20 April 1, 2025 to supplement appropriations for personal service, other
21 than personal service and fringe benefits, and to carry out the
22 provisions of this act. The monies hereby appropriated are available for
23 payment of any liabilities or obligations incurred prior to or during
24 the state fiscal year commencing April 1, 2025. For this purpose, these
25 appropriations shall remain in full force and effect for the payment of
26 liabilities incurred on or before March 31, 2026.
27 § 16. Notwithstanding any provision of the state finance law to the
28 contrary, the several amounts as hereinafter set forth, or so much ther-
29 eof as may be necessary, are hereby appropriated for the fiscal year
30 beginning April 1, 2023 to supplement appropriations available for
31 personal service, other than personal service and fringe benefits, and
32 to carry out the provisions of this act. Moreover, the amounts appropri-
33 ated as nonpersonal service may be suballocated/transferred to any state
34 department or agency as needed. The monies hereby appropriated are
35 available for payment of any liabilities or obligations incurred prior
36 to or during the state fiscal year commencing April 1, 2023. For this
37 purpose, these appropriations shall remain in full force and effect for
38 the payment of liabilities incurred on or before March 31, 2026. No
39 money shall be available for expenditure from this appropriation until a
40 certification of approval has been issued by the director of the budget
41 and such certificate or any amendment thereto has been filed with the
42 state comptroller, the chairperson of the senate finance committee, and
43 the chairperson of the assembly ways and means committee.
44 ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
45 General Fund / State Operations
46 State Purposes Account - 10050
47 MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
48 Doctoral Program Recruitment and Retention
49 Enhancement Fund, Comprehensive College
50 Graduate Program Recruitment and Retention
51 Fund, Fee Mitigation Fund, Downstate
52 Location Fund, Statewide Professional
S. 8383 7
1 Development Committee, Pre-Tax and Work-
2 Life Services Programs ....................... 9,700,000
3 § 17. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to
4 have been in full force and effect on and after July 2, 2023.
