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A05942 Summary:

BILL NOA05942
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORLalor
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd §6304, Ed L
 
Relates to the financing of community colleges.
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A05942 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          5942
 
                               2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                      March 2, 2021
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by M. of A. LALOR -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Higher Education
 
        AN ACT to amend the education law,  in  relation  to  the  financing  of
          community colleges
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Section 6304 of the education law, as  amended  by  chapter
     2  552  of the laws of 1984, subparagraph (i) of paragraph b of subdivision
     3  1 as separately amended by chapter 762 of the laws of  1984,  paragraphs
     4  b-1  and b-2 of subdivision 1 as added by section 1 of part D of chapter
     5  57 of the laws of 2013, paragraph c of subdivision  1,  paragraph  b  of
     6  subdivision  8, paragraph b of subdivision 9 and paragraph b of subdivi-
     7  sion 10 as amended by chapter 295 of the laws of 1995, the closing para-
     8  graph of paragraph c of subdivision 1, paragraph c of subdivision 8  and
     9  paragraph  c  of  subdivision  10 as added by chapter 492 of the laws of
    10  2010, subdivision 6 as amended by chapter  614  of  the  laws  of  1988,
    11  subparagraph (iv) of paragraph a of subdivision 8 as added by section 31
    12  of part II of chapter 59 of the laws of 2004 and subdivisions 11, 12 and
    13  13  as  added  by chapter 702 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as
    14  follows:
    15    § 6304. Financing of community colleges. 1. The master plan, standards
    16  and regulations  prescribed  by  the  state  university  trustees  shall
    17  include  provisions  for financing the capital costs and operating costs
    18  of such colleges in the following manner:
    19    a. State financial aid shall be [one-third of] the amount of operating
    20  costs, as approved by the state university trustees minus any amount  of
    21  support received from local sponsors.  Operating costs shall not include
    22  any  payment  of  debt  service  or rentals or other payments by a local
    23  sponsor to the dormitory authority pursuant to any  lease,  sublease  or
    24  other agreement entered into between the dormitory authority and a local
    25  sponsor.  Such  aid  for  a college shall, however, be for two-fifths of
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07355-01-1

        A. 5942                             2
 
     1  operating costs for any fiscal year of the college during  which  it  is
     2  implementing  a  program  of  full  opportunity provided a plan has been
     3  approved by the state university trustees. Such  plan,  which  shall  be
     4  submitted  by  the  college only after approval by the board of trustees
     5  and the local sponsor or sponsors, shall
     6    (i) establish a  policy  of  offering  acceptance  in  an  appropriate
     7  program  of  the  college  to all applicants residing in the sponsorship
     8  area who graduated from high school within the prior year and to  appli-
     9  cants  who  are  high school graduates and who were released from active
    10  duty with the armed forces of the United States within the prior year;
    11    (ii) provide for full implementation of such policy by the fall semes-
    12  ter of nineteen hundred seventy or, if the college demonstrates  to  the
    13  state  university  trustees  that full implementation by such time would
    14  not be feasible and in the best interests of the college, provide for  a
    15  timetable  to  achieve  such full implementation within five years which
    16  provides for substantial growth in registration each year;
    17    (iii) make provision  for  and  contain  adequate  assurances  of  the
    18  expenditure  of funds by the sponsor or sponsors at a level [pursuant to
    19  state university regulations] as determined by the sponsor or  sponsors,
    20  at least that necessary to implement the plan;
    21    (iv)  provide  for  adequate  programs of remediation, instruction and
    22  counselling to meet the needs of  all  students  to  be  served  by  the
    23  college.  The  trustees  may  require periodic reports or certifications
    24  from colleges which have submitted plans which have  been  approved  and
    25  may,  in appropriate cases, revoke such approval in case a college is in
    26  default of implementing its plan.
    27    b. (i) Operating costs shall not include any payment of  debt  service
    28  or rentals or other payments by a local sponsor to the dormitory author-
    29  ity  pursuant  to  any  lease,  sublease or other agreement entered into
    30  between the dormitory authority and  a  local  sponsor.  Such  operating
    31  costs shall be subject to such maximum limitations and joint regulations
    32  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  both the city university trustees and the
    33  state university trustees with the approval of the director of the budg-
    34  et. Such limitations shall be based upon maximum allowances per  student
    35  for  each  student  in  attendance in the case of operating costs, or in
    36  accordance with such other factors as may be deemed appropriate. Operat-
    37  ing costs shall include courses offered for  the  purpose  of  providing
    38  occupational  training  or  assistance  to business for the creation and
    39  retention of job opportunities and for the improvement of  productivity,
    40  through  contracts  or  arrangements  between  a community college and a
    41  business, labor organization, or not-for-profit  corporations  or  other
    42  nongovernmental  organizations,  including  labor-management  committees
    43  composed of labor, business and community leaders organized  to  promote
    44  labor-management  relations,  productivity, the quality of working life,
    45  industrial development, and retention of business in the community.
    46    (ii) By December thirty-first,  nineteen  hundred  seventy-three,  the
    47  state  university trustees shall develop a new formula for the financing
    48  of the operating costs of community colleges. Such formula  may  include
    49  maximum  limitations,  regulations, and incentives to achieve compliance
    50  with the code of standards and procedures for community colleges.
    51    The state university trustees shall present to the  governor  proposed
    52  legislation incorporating such formula into law for consideration during
    53  the  nineteen  hundred  seventy-four regular session of the legislature.
    54  The state university trustees shall also present a detailed analysis  of
    55  the  fiscal  impact of such a formula on the state and on each community
    56  college within the state.   The university  trustees  shall  develop  an

        A. 5942                             3
 
     1  amended  formula and shall present such formula to the governor by Janu-
     2  ary first, two thousand twenty-two.
     3    Such  formula or the amended version thereof, upon enactment into law,
     4  shall replace any limitations and regulations then in existence concern-
     5  ing the financing of community colleges  promulgated  pursuant  to  this
     6  section.
     7    (iii) The state university trustees shall, on or before December thir-
     8  ty-first  in each year, make a report to the governor and legislature as
     9  to the status of community college programs and curricula  provided  for
    10  in  article  one  hundred  twenty-six of this chapter. Such report shall
    11  also contain recommendations for  any  revision  or  alteration  in  the
    12  formula for financing the operating costs of community colleges.
    13    (iv)  The  state  university  trustees  shall  promulgate regulations,
    14  effective the first day of July, nineteen  hundred  seventy-four,  which
    15  shall  include a code of standards and procedures for the administration
    16  and operation of community colleges. Such code of standards  and  proce-
    17  dures, may include, but not be limited to, minimum and maximum standards
    18  for academic curricula, minimum and maximum qualitative and quantitative
    19  standards  for facilities, and standard administrative procedures, which
    20  may include schedules and formats for the preparation and submission  of
    21  annual  budgets  by the boards of trustees and the local sponsors to the
    22  state university trustees, schedules for local  sponsors'  disbursements
    23  to  the  community  colleges of their provided shares of operating costs
    24  and systems of accounts for use by the boards of trustees and the  local
    25  sponsors  of  the  community  colleges. Such regulations may supplement,
    26  replace or amend any  limitations  and  regulations  then  in  existence
    27  promulgated pursuant to this section.
    28    b-1. (i) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for the
    29  community  college fiscal year two thousand thirteen--two thousand four-
    30  teen and thereafter, each program that confers a credit-bearing  certif-
    31  icate,  an  associate of occupational studies degree, or an associate of
    32  applied science degree, shall demonstrate that it is preparing  students
    33  for current and future job opportunities by partnering with employers as
    34  follows:
    35    (A) The program is a partnership between the community college and one
    36  or more employers to train and employ students in a specific occupation;
    37    (B)  The  program has an advisory committee made up of members of whom
    38  the majority are employers in the occupation or  sector,  or  a  related
    39  sector,  or is otherwise advised by one or more employers in the occupa-
    40  tion or sector, that employ or will employ workers in the  region  where
    41  the  community  college  is located, and such committee serves to advise
    42  the community college on the program's curriculum,  recruitment,  place-
    43  ment  and  evaluation so that it remains up-to-date with employer needs;
    44  or
    45    (C) The program is in a high-tech sector and is in demand for  current
    46  or  projected  job  growth,  including  those  sectors identified by the
    47  regional economic development council, and  is  advised  by  current  or
    48  potential future employers in the occupation or sector.
    49    (ii)  On or before January first, two thousand fourteen for the commu-
    50  nity college fiscal year two thousand thirteen--two  thousand  fourteen,
    51  November  first,  two thousand fourteen for the community college fiscal
    52  year two thousand fourteen--two thousand fifteen and November  first  of
    53  each  community  college  fiscal  year  thereafter, the state university
    54  trustees and the city university trustees shall each submit a job  link-
    55  age  report  to the director of the budget, the chairs of the senate and
    56  assembly higher education committees and the chair of the senate finance

        A. 5942                             4
 
     1  committee and the chair  of  the  assembly  ways  and  means  committee,
     2  including  an  accounting of full time equivalent enrollment in programs
     3  that  confer  credit-bearing  certificates,  associate  of  occupational
     4  studies degrees, or associate of applied science degrees, in such a form
     5  and  manner  as the director of the budget may require to verify compli-
     6  ance with subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.
     7    b-2. (i) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,  within
     8  amounts  appropriated for incentive funding, the state university of New
     9  York and city university of New York  shall  make  awards  to  community
    10  colleges  from the next generation NY job linkage program incentive fund
    11  based on measures of  student  success  for  all  students  enrolled  in
    12  programs that confer a credit-bearing certificate, an associate of occu-
    13  pational  studies  degree,  or  an  associate of applied science degree,
    14  including, but not limited to:
    15    (A) The number of  students  who  are  employed  following  degree  or
    16  certificate  completion  and  their wage gains, if any, as determined by
    17  the department of labor, which shall be  given  the  greatest  weighting
    18  among all measures of student success;
    19    (B)  The  number  of  degree  completions, certificate completions and
    20  student transfers to other institutions of higher education;
    21    (C) The number of degree and certificate completions under clause  (B)
    22  of  this  [paragraph]  subparagraph  by students considered academically
    23  at-risk due to economic disadvantage or other factor of  under-represen-
    24  tation within the field of study; veterans; and the disabled;
    25    (D)  The  number  of  students  who  make  adequate  progress  towards
    26  completion of a degree or certificate,  which  may  include  accelerated
    27  completion of a developmental education program;
    28    (E)  The  number of degree completions in innovative programs designed
    29  to enable students to balance school, work and other personal  responsi-
    30  bilities; and
    31    (F)  The  number of students engaged in career and employment opportu-
    32  nities including  apprenticeships,  cooperative  education  programs  or
    33  other  paid  work  experience that is an integral part of their academic
    34  program.
    35    (ii) Awards shall be made on a pro-rata basis  in  accordance  with  a
    36  methodology  and  in  a form and manner developed by the director of the
    37  budget, in consultation with the state university and city university.
    38    (iii) On or before December first of each year, or an alternative date
    39  as determined by the director of the budget  in  consultation  with  the
    40  state  university and city university, the state university trustees and
    41  the city university trustees shall each submit a plan  for  approval  by
    42  the  director  of  the budget to allocate amounts available for the next
    43  generation NY job linkage program incentive fund in accordance with this
    44  paragraph.
    45    c. The local sponsor or sponsors shall provide [one-half of] a portion
    46  of the amount of the capital costs, or so much as may be necessary,  and
    47  [one-third  or], in the case of a college implementing a program of full
    48  opportunity for local residents,  [four-fifteenths]  a  portion  of  the
    49  operating  costs  in an amount as determined by the local sponsor, or so
    50  much as may be necessary, by appropriations  from  general  revenues  or
    51  from  funds  derived  from special tax levies earmarked in part or whole
    52  for such purposes, by the use of gifts of money or, with the consent  of
    53  the state university trustees, by the use of property, gifts of property
    54  or by the furnishing of services or, where a community college region is
    55  the local sponsor, in the manner provided by section sixty-three hundred
    56  ten  of  this  [chapter]  article.   Where the local sponsor or sponsors

        A. 5942                             5
 
     1  provide all or a portion of its or their share of capital  or  operating
     2  costs in real or personal property or in services, the valuation of such
     3  property and services for the purpose of determining the amount of state
     4  aid  shall be made by the state university trustees with the approval of
     5  the director of the budget. Local sponsors and, in the case of community
     6  college regions, any county, city or school district which has appointed
     7  members to a community college regional board of trustees may  authorize
     8  the  issuance  of bonds or notes pursuant to the provisions of the local
     9  finance law to provide any portion or all of its requisite share of such
    10  costs for which a period of probable usefulness has been established  in
    11  the  local finance law. Where a county or city is the local sponsor of a
    12  community college, or appoints members to a community  college  regional
    13  board  of  trustees,  the  expenditures  of  the  county or city for the
    14  college, or community college region, shall be a purpose of  the  county
    15  or  city  provided, however, that taxes to pay the local sponsor's share
    16  of operating costs, or the operating shares  of  the  community  college
    17  region  charged  to  the  county,  may be charged back to the cities and
    18  towns in the county in proportion to the number  of  students  attending
    19  the  community college each term who were residents of each such city or
    20  town at the beginning of such term.
    21    c-1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in the case
    22  of community college regions, a  community  college  regional  board  of
    23  trustees  as  finance  board of the region may authorize the issuance of
    24  bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness or the effectuation of  a
    25  financing transaction by the community college region with the dormitory
    26  authority pursuant to the provisions of [article eight of] title four of
    27  article  eight  of  the  public  authorities  law  to provide all or any
    28  portion of such costs for which a period of possible usefulness has been
    29  established  in  the  local  finance  law.  Notwithstanding  any   other
    30  provision  of  law,  the  community college region shall itself have the
    31  power to borrow money for specific objects or purposes  or  a  class  or
    32  classes  of  objects or purposes described in section 11.00 of the local
    33  finance law by adoption, by two-thirds of the  voting  strength  of  the
    34  regional board of trustees thereof, of a bond resolution as described in
    35  section  32.00 of the local finance law and shall include the recitation
    36  described in section 80.00 of the local finance law.  Said  bond  resol-
    37  ution  shall include the power to enter into financing transactions with
    38  the dormitory authority in accordance with the  provisions  of  [article
    39  eight  of]  title  four  of article eight of the public authorities law.
    40  Upon adoption and receipt of the approvals described in subdivision  ten
    41  of  section  sixty-three  hundred  ten  of  this  article, the community
    42  college region shall publish a legal notice of estoppel as described  in
    43  section  81.00  of  the  local finance law, which shall be applicable to
    44  said bond resolution. A community college region is hereby authorized to
    45  pledge any revenues or other monies to the payment  of  any  obligations
    46  issued,  or  any  financing  agreement  entered  into with the dormitory
    47  authority.
    48    d. Tuition and fees charged students shall  be  fixed  so  as  not  to
    49  exceed  in  the aggregate more than one-third of the amount of operating
    50  costs of the community college.
    51    1-b. For the purpose of budgeting and  expending  funds  and  for  the
    52  purpose of determining eligibility for state financial aid for operating
    53  costs  pursuant to subdivision one of this section, subject to rules and
    54  regulations of the state university trustees and  the  approval  of  the
    55  director  of  the budget, the community colleges in the city of New York
    56  sponsored by the board of higher education or by the city  of  New  York

        A. 5942                             6
 
     1  where  the board of higher education has been designated as the trustees
     2  of such colleges, shall be treated as a single community college.
     3    2.  Community colleges shall be empowered and authorized through their
     4  boards of trustees, to accept gifts, grants, bequests and devises  abso-
     5  lutely or in trust for such purposes as may be appropriate or proper for
     6  effectuating the programs and objectives of such colleges.
     7    3.  Nothing  herein  contained shall be construed to prevent any local
     8  sponsor or sponsors from creating and operating community colleges which
     9  exceed maximum cost limitations or allowances prescribed  by  the  state
    10  university trustees, provided however, that the [excess] costs over such
    11  prescribed limits or allowances shall be borne and paid for or otherwise
    12  made  available  to or by such sponsors in an amount to be determined by
    13  the local sponsor.
    14    4. Where two or more local sponsors jointly establish  and  operate  a
    15  community  college, the local share of the capital costs shall be appor-
    16  tioned among them according  to  [their  respective  equalized  assessed
    17  valuations  or  such  other  factors  or  bases  as  may  be provided or
    18  prescribed in the plans, standards and  regulations  prescribed  by  the
    19  state  university  trustees.  The  local share of the operating expenses
    20  shall be apportioned among such joint sponsors in  accordance  with  the
    21  number  of students who are residents of their respective areas, or such
    22  other factors as may be prescribed in the  plans,  standards  and  regu-
    23  lations by the state university trustees] an agreement between the spon-
    24  sors.
    25    5.  Any  community  college  may, with the consent and approval of its
    26  local legislative body or board, community  college  regional  board  of
    27  trustees, or other appropriate governing agency, and the state universi-
    28  ty trustees, require lesser tuition charges or fees from persons who are
    29  residents  of the sponsoring community, communities or community college
    30  region [than the amount necessary in the aggregate to provide  one-third
    31  of  the  operating  costs],  or  provide tuition to such persons without
    32  charge, provided that the local legislative  body  or  board,  community
    33  college regional board of trustees or other appropriate governing agency
    34  appropriates  sufficient  funds,  or sufficient funds are made available
    35  from other sources  to  provide  the  amount  which  would  normally  be
    36  provided  by such tuition and fees. Each community college shall provide
    37  that upon request by a student who is an eligible veteran the payment of
    38  tuition and fees, less the amounts payable for such purposes from schol-
    39  arships or other financial assistance awarded said veteran  pursuant  to
    40  article  thirteen  of  this  chapter, article one hundred thirty of this
    41  chapter or any other community college, state or federal  financial  aid
    42  program,  shall  be deferred in such amounts and until such times as the
    43  several payments of veterans' benefits under the Veterans'  Readjustment
    44  Benefit  Act  of l966, as amended, are received by the veteran, provided
    45  that the veteran has filed a claim for such benefits and presents to the
    46  community college proof of eligibility, extent of entitlement  to  bene-
    47  fits and the need for deferral until the receipt of such benefits.
    48    5-a.  Notwithstanding  the provisions of any general, special or local
    49  law to the contrary, the fiscal year of a community college  other  than
    50  in  the  city  of  New  York  and  other  than one sponsored by a school
    51  district, shall begin with the first day of September and end  with  the
    52  thirty-first  day  of  August in each year. All of the provisions of law
    53  fixing times or dates within which or by which  certain  acts  shall  be
    54  performed in relation to the preparation and adoption of the budget of a
    55  city  or  a  county, including but not limited to submission of a budget
    56  estimate, filing of a tentative budget, public hearing and adoption of a

        A. 5942                             7
 
     1  budget, shall apply to the budget of a community  college  sponsored  by
     2  such city or county but shall be correspondingly changed, as to time, to
     3  relate  to the commencement of the fiscal year of the community college;
     4  provided, however, that after the budget for the community college shall
     5  have  been  adopted, the local legislative body or board or other appro-
     6  priate governing body shall provide for the raising of taxes required by
     7  such budget, without any decrease in amount, in the same manner  and  at
     8  the  same  time prescribed by law for the annual levy of taxes by or for
     9  the city or county. All of the provisions of law fixing times and  dates
    10  within  which or by which certain acts shall be performed in relation to
    11  the preparation and adoption of the budget of a  school  district  shall
    12  apply  to  the  budget  of  a  community  college  sponsored by a school
    13  district. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to communi-
    14  ty college regions.
    15    5-b. Moneys raised by taxation for maintenance of a community  college
    16  and moneys received from all other sources for purposes of the community
    17  college,  other than in the city of New York, shall be kept separate and
    18  distinct from any other moneys of the sponsor or sponsors and shall  not
    19  be  used  for  any other purpose. The amount of taxes levied for mainte-
    20  nance of a community college shall be credited thereto and  made  avail-
    21  able  therefor  within  the  fiscal  year of such community college. The
    22  provisions of this subdivision shall  not  apply  to  community  college
    23  regions.
    24    6. The local legislative body or board, or other appropriate governing
    25  agency, other than a community college regional board of trustees, shall
    26  provide the local sponsor's share of the community college operating and
    27  capital costs in conformance with such sponsor's annual budgetary appro-
    28  priation,  and shall direct that payment of all appropriations for main-
    29  tenance of the college be made to the board of trustees of  the  college
    30  for  expenditure  by  the  board, subject to the terms and conditions of
    31  such appropriations appearing in such budget  and  to  such  regulations
    32  regarding  the custody, deposit, audit and payment thereof as such local
    33  legislative body or board, or other appropriate  governing  agency,  may
    34  deem  proper  to  carry  out  the terms of the budget; provided that any
    35  local sponsor which, as of January first, nineteen hundred eighty-eight,
    36  provided for audit and payment of charges against the community  college
    37  in  the  same  manner as it provides for other charges against the local
    38  sponsor, may continue to do so for a period not to extend beyond Septem-
    39  ber first, nineteen hundred eighty-nine.
    40    Such local legislative body or board, or other  appropriate  governing
    41  agency,  shall authorize the board of trustees of the college to elect a
    42  treasurer, establish a bank account or  accounts  in  the  name  of  the
    43  college and deposit therein moneys received or collected by the college,
    44  including  moneys  appropriated  and  paid  by the local sponsor, moneys
    45  received from tuition, fees, charges, sales of  products  and  services,
    46  and  from all other sources. The board of trustees of the college shall,
    47  subject to the requirements specified in or  imposed  pursuant  to  this
    48  subdivision,  authorize  the  treasurer  to  pay  all  proper  bills and
    49  accounts of the college, including salaries and wages, from funds in its
    50  custody. The treasurer shall execute a bond or official  undertaking  to
    51  the  board of trustees of the college in such sum and with such sureties
    52  as that board shall require, the expense of which  shall  be  a  college
    53  charge.
    54    The  board  of  trustees  of the college similarly shall authorize the
    55  treasurer to establish and maintain petty cash funds, not in  excess  of
    56  two  hundred  dollars  each,  for  specified  college purposes or under-

        A. 5942                             8
 
     1  takings, from which may be paid, in advance of audit, properly  itemized
     2  and  verified  or  certified  bills  for materials, supplies or services
     3  furnished to the college for the conduct of its affairs and  upon  terms
     4  calling  for  the payment of cash to the vendor upon the delivery of any
     5  such materials or supplies or the rendering of any such services.  Lists
     6  of  all  expenditures made from such petty cash funds shall be presented
     7  to the board of trustees at each regular meeting thereof, together  with
     8  the  bills  supporting  such expenditures, for audit and the board shall
     9  direct reimbursement of such petty cash funds from the appropriate budg-
    10  etary item or items in an amount equal to the total of such bills  which
    11  it  shall so audit and allow. Any of such bills or any portion of any of
    12  such bills as shall be disallowed  upon  audit  shall  be  the  personal
    13  responsibility  of the treasurer and such official shall forthwith reim-
    14  burse such petty cash fund in the amount of such disallowances.
    15    The board of trustees of the college shall provide for periodic audits
    16  of all accounts maintained at its  direction  and  render  such  reports
    17  respecting  any  and all receipts and expenditures of the college as the
    18  local legislative body or board, or other appropriate governing  agency,
    19  may direct.
    20    7.  The  board  of  trustees  of the college, or the community college
    21  regional board of trustees may require  any  bank  or  banker  in  which
    22  community  college  moneys are on deposit or are to be deposited to file
    23  with the board a surety bond payable to the college executed by a surety
    24  company authorized to transact business in this state  and  securing  to
    25  the  college the payment of such deposits and the agreed interest there-
    26  on, if any. In lieu of a surety bond, the board  may  require  any  such
    27  bank  or  banker to deposit with it outstanding unmatured obligations of
    28  the United States of America, the state of New York, or of  any  munici-
    29  pality  or college of the state of New York, as security for such moneys
    30  so deposited; but such obligations shall be subject to the  approval  of
    31  the  board  and  shall  be  deposited  in such place and held under such
    32  conditions as the board  may  determine.  Every  depositary  of  college
    33  moneys  is  hereby  authorized  and empowered to secure deposits of such
    34  moneys as provided in this subdivision.
    35    8. a. The state shall, in addition to any  other  funds  that  may  be
    36  appropriated  for assistance to community colleges, annually appropriate
    37  and pay
    38    (i) to the local sponsor of each community college, except a community
    39  college where the local sponsor has entered into an agreement  with  the
    40  dormitory authority to finance and construct a community college facili-
    41  ty, an amount equal to the aggregate of all rentals and all payments due
    42  and  payable to the dormitory authority pursuant to any lease, sublease,
    43  or other agreement entered into between the dormitory authority and such
    44  local sponsor, whether or not such local sponsor shall be liable  there-
    45  for,  for each twelve-month period beginning on the next succeeding July
    46  first, and
    47    (ii) to the local sponsor of each community college  where  the  local
    48  sponsor  has  entered  into an agreement with the dormitory authority to
    49  finance and construct a community college facility, an amount  equal  to
    50  one-half of all rentals and all payments due and payable to the dormito-
    51  ry authority pursuant to any lease, sublease, or other agreement entered
    52  into  between the dormitory authority and such local sponsor, whether or
    53  not such local sponsor shall be liable therefor, for  each  twelve-month
    54  period  beginning  on the next succeeding July first, provided, however,
    55  if such a local sponsor shall thereafter agree to finance the  costs  of
    56  providing  all  or part of a community college facility the state shall,

        A. 5942                             9
 
     1  instead, annually appropriate and pay to such local  sponsor  an  amount
     2  equal to that portion of all rentals and all payments due and payable to
     3  the  dormitory authority during the twelve-month period beginning on the
     4  next  succeeding  July  first  pursuant  to any lease, sublease or other
     5  agreement providing for such  financing  which  portion  represents  the
     6  state's  share  (one-half)  of the cost of each facility being financed,
     7  whether or not the local sponsor shall be liable to pay such rentals and
     8  payments, and
     9    (iii) to the  local  sponsor  of  each  community  college  which  has
    10  financed  the  entire  capital  cost of constructing a community college
    11  facility, an amount equal to one-half of  the  annual  debt  service  on
    12  obligations issued by such local sponsor for the purpose of constructing
    13  such facility. No local sponsor of a community college shall be eligible
    14  for  assistance pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph unless: (a)
    15  a first instance appropriation has been enacted into state law prior  to
    16  the  commencement  of  construction;  and  (b) the state comptroller has
    17  approved the interest rate of any and all  obligations  issued  by  such
    18  local  sponsor after July twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred seventy-six to
    19  finance the cost of such facility prior to the issuance  of  such  obli-
    20  gations;  and  (c)  all  contracts for the construction of such facility
    21  entered into by such local sponsor after  July  twenty-fourth,  nineteen
    22  hundred  seventy-six  have  been  approved by the director of the budget
    23  prior to the awarding of such contracts.
    24    (iv) notwithstanding any other provision  of  this  paragraph  to  the
    25  contrary,  if  the  dormitory  authority and the state university of New
    26  York shall have entered into an agreement pursuant to subdivision  twen-
    27  ty-one  of  section sixteen hundred seventy-eight of the public authori-
    28  ties law and paragraph x of subdivision two  of  section  three  hundred
    29  fifty-five  of  this chapter, the amounts otherwise payable to the local
    30  sponsors of the community colleges  pursuant  to  this  subparagraph  on
    31  account of the state's share of the cost of each facility being financed
    32  shall  be payable to the dormitory authority in accordance with subdivi-
    33  sion five of section ninety-seven-p of the state finance law.
    34    b. For the purposes of this subdivision, all references to  the  local
    35  sponsor of a community college shall be deemed, in the case of community
    36  college  regions, to refer to those counties, cities or school districts
    37  which have appointed members to a community college  regional  board  of
    38  trustees.
    39    c.  For purposes of this subdivision, the reference to the local spon-
    40  sor of a community college may be deemed, in the  case  of  a  community
    41  college region, to alternatively refer to the community college regional
    42  board of trustees thereof.
    43    9. a. Where construction of a community college facility has commenced
    44  pursuant  to the provisions of a lease, sublease or other agreement with
    45  the dormitory authority or prior to July twenty-fourth, nineteen hundred
    46  seventy-six, the local sponsor of such community college  may  elect  to
    47  finance  the  entire capital cost of constructing such facility pursuant
    48  to the provisions of subdivision ten of this section, provided, however,
    49  that the proceeds of obligations issued by such local sponsor to finance
    50  the capital cost of constructing such facility may be paid to the dormi-
    51  tory authority to the extent of amounts owing under a lease, sublease or
    52  other agreement with the dormitory authority entered into by such  local
    53  sponsor  with  respect  to  such facility, and provided further that any
    54  such local sponsor which elected to refinance the entire capital cost of
    55  constructing a community college facility pursuant to the provisions  of
    56  this subdivision, may, at the time it enters into permanent financing of

        A. 5942                            10
 
     1  such facility, elect to do so pursuant to the provisions of the dormito-
     2  ry authority act or subdivision ten of this section.
     3    b.  For  the purposes of this subdivision, all references to the local
     4  sponsor of a community college shall be deemed, in the case of community
     5  college regions, to refer to those counties, cities or school  districts
     6  which  have  appointed  members to a community college regional board of
     7  trustees.
     8    10. a. Each local sponsor of a community college shall have full power
     9  and authority to finance all or a portion of  the  capital  costs  of  a
    10  community  college  facility  pursuant  to  the  provisions of the local
    11  finance law and to expend the proceeds therefrom to pay such costs.
    12    b. For the purposes of this subdivision, the reference  to  the  local
    13  sponsor of a community college shall be deemed, in the case of community
    14  college  regions, to refer to those counties, cities or school districts
    15  which have appointed members to a community college  regional  board  of
    16  trustees.
    17    c.  A  community college region shall have full power and authority to
    18  finance all or a portion of the capital costs of  a  regional  community
    19  college  facility pursuant to the provisions of [article eight of] title
    20  four of article eight of the public authorities law and  to  expend  the
    21  proceeds therefrom to pay such costs.
    22    11.  a. The following terms, when used or referred to in this subdivi-
    23  sion, shall have the following meaning:
    24    (i) "Credit card" means any credit card, credit  plate,  charge  card,
    25  charge  plate,  courtesy  card,  debit  card, other identification card,
    26  value transfer device as defined by  the  state  comptroller  or  device
    27  issued  by a person to another person which may be used to obtain a cash
    28  advance or a loan or  credit,  or  to  purchase  or  lease  property  or
    29  services on the credit of the person issuing the credit card or a person
    30  who  has  agreed with the issuer to pay obligations arising from the use
    31  of a credit card issued to another person.
    32    (ii) "Card issuer" means an issuer of a credit card,  charge  card  or
    33  other value transfer device.
    34    (iii)  "Financing agency" means any agency defined as such in subdivi-
    35  sion eighteen of section four hundred one of the personal property law.
    36    (iv) "Person" means an individual,  partnership,  corporation  or  any
    37  other legal or commercial entity.
    38    b.  The  board  of trustees of any community college may determine, by
    39  resolution, that it is in the public interest to authorize such communi-
    40  ty college to enter into agreements with one or more financing  agencies
    41  or  card  issuers to provide for the acceptance, by such officers of the
    42  community college as may be designated pursuant to this subdivision,  of
    43  credit  cards as a means of payment of tuition, expenses, fees, charges,
    44  revenue, financial obligations or other amounts owed by students to  the
    45  community  college. Any such agreement shall govern the terms and condi-
    46  tions upon which a credit card  proffered  as  a  means  of  payment  of
    47  tuition,  expenses,  fees,  charges,  revenue,  financial obligations or
    48  other amounts shall be accepted or declined and the manner in and condi-
    49  tions upon which the financing agency or card issuer shall pay  to  such
    50  community college the amount of tuition, expenses, fees, charges, reven-
    51  ue,  financial  obligations  or  other amounts paid by means of a credit
    52  card pursuant to such agreement. Any such agreement may provide for  the
    53  payment  by  such  community  college  to  such financing agency or card
    54  issuer of fees for the services provided by  such  financing  agency  or
    55  card  issuer  pursuant  to  such  agreement, which fees may consist of a
    56  discount deducted from or payable in respect of the amount of each  such

        A. 5942                            11

     1  tuition,  expense,  fee,  charge, revenue, financial obligation or other
     2  amount. If fees are paid by such a discount, they shall be  post-audited
     3  by  the officer or board of the community college responsible for audit-
     4  ing claims against the community college.
     5    c.  Any  community  college which has entered into an agreement with a
     6  financing agency or card issuer as authorized by  this  subdivision  may
     7  accept  credit  cards  as a means of payment of tuition, expenses, fees,
     8  charges, revenue, financial obligations or other amounts, as provided in
     9  such agreement and may pay such fees as are specified in such  agreement
    10  to such financing agency or card issuer in consideration of the services
    11  rendered  by  such financing agency or card issuer thereunder.  Notwith-
    12  standing any other provision of law to the contrary,  it  shall  be  the
    13  option  of the board of trustees of the community college to require, as
    14  a condition of accepting payment by credit card, that such person offer-
    15  ing payment by credit or charge card pay a service fee to the  community
    16  college  not  exceeding  costs  incurred  by  the  community  college in
    17  connection with the credit or charge card payment transaction, including
    18  any fee owed by the community college to the financing  agency  or  card
    19  issuer arising from that transaction.
    20    d.  Contracts entered into pursuant to this subdivision between commu-
    21  nity college and financing agencies or card issuers shall be awarded  in
    22  accordance  with  the  community college's written internal policies and
    23  procedures governing procurements.
    24    e. The underlying debt,  lien,  obligation,  bill,  account  or  other
    25  amount owed by the student to the community college for which payment by
    26  credit  card is accepted by the community college shall not be expunged,
    27  cancelled, released, discharged or satisfied, and any receipt  or  other
    28  evidence  of  payment  shall  be deemed conditional, until the community
    29  college has received final and unconditional payment of the full  amount
    30  due from the financing agency or card issuer for such credit card trans-
    31  action.
    32    f.  The  board  of trustees, in enacting a resolution pursuant to this
    33  subdivision, shall designate which of its  officers,  charged  with  the
    34  duty  of  collecting  or  receiving  moneys  on  behalf of the community
    35  college, shall be authorized to  accept  credit  cards  as  a  means  of
    36  payment  of  tuition,  expenses, fees, charges, revenue, financial obli-
    37  gations and other amounts.
    38    g. Under circumstances where community colleges are otherwise  author-
    39  ized  by  law to contract for the collection of tuition, expenses, fees,
    40  charges, revenue, financial obligations or other amounts, such  contract
    41  shall provide that the contractor accept credit cards as a mechanism for
    42  payment.
    43    12.  a.  Notwithstanding  any  other  law to the contrary, whenever an
    44  officer of a community college is authorized pursuant to law to disburse
    45  or transfer on behalf of the community college funds in the  custody  of
    46  the  officer,  that  officer shall be authorized to disburse or transfer
    47  such funds by means of electronic or wire  transfer.  Such  disbursement
    48  shall be otherwise subject to applicable laws, provided that:
    49    (i)  the board of trustees of the community college has entered into a
    50  written agreement with the bank or trust company  in  which  such  funds
    51  have  been deposited, prescribing the manner in which electronic or wire
    52  transfer of such funds shall be accomplished, identifying by number  and
    53  name those accounts from which electronic or wire transfers may be made,
    54  identifying  which officer or officers are authorized to order the elec-
    55  tronic or wire transfer of funds from those accounts, and implementing a

        A. 5942                            12
 
     1  security procedure as defined in section 4-A-201 of the uniform  commer-
     2  cial code; and
     3    (ii)  the  bank or trust company processing the transfer shall provide
     4  to the officer ordering the electronic or wire transfer of funds written
     5  confirmation of each such transaction no later  than  the  business  day
     6  following the day on which the funds are transmitted.
     7    b.  It  shall  be  the  duty of the board of trustees of the community
     8  college to adopt a system of internal controls for the documentation and
     9  reporting of all transfers or disbursements  of  funds  accomplished  by
    10  electronic or wire transfer.
    11    13.  a.  The board of trustees of any community college may determine,
    12  by resolution, that it is in the  public  interest  and  authorize  such
    13  community  college  to  provide for the acceptance of tuition, expenses,
    14  fees, charges, revenue, financial obligations or  other  amounts  via  a
    15  community college internet website. However, submission via the internet
    16  may  not  be  required as the sole method for the collection of tuition,
    17  expenses, fees, charges  and  other  amounts.  Such  payments  shall  be
    18  accepted  via  the  internet  in  a manner and condition defined by such
    19  community college. Any method used to receive  internet  payments  shall
    20  comply  with  article  one of the state technology law and any rules and
    21  regulations promulgated and guidelines developed thereunder  and,  at  a
    22  minimum must:
    23    (i) authenticate the identity of the sender; and
    24    (ii) ensure the security of the information transmitted.
    25    b.  Payments received via the internet shall be considered received by
    26  the appropriate officer and paid by the payor at the time  the  internet
    27  transaction is completed and sent by the payor.
    28    c.  The  underlying  debt,  lien,  obligation,  bill, account or other
    29  amount owed by the student to the community college for which payment by
    30  internet is accepted by the community college  shall  not  be  expunged,
    31  cancelled,  released,  discharged or satisfied, and any receipt or other
    32  evidence of payment shall be deemed  conditional,  until  the  community
    33  college  has received final and unconditional payment of the full amount
    34  due.
    35    d. The board of trustees, in enacting a resolution  pursuant  to  this
    36  subdivision,  shall  designate  which  of its officers, charged with the
    37  duty of collecting or  receiving  moneys  on  behalf  of  the  community
    38  college, shall be authorized to accept such payments via the internet.
    39    §  2.  This  act  shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all
    40  school years commencing on and after July 1, 2022.
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