Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, 66th Assembly District Manhattan, and Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, announced today the Assembly passage of two bills intended to strengthen New York's public higher education system. A.10620 / S.7259-A (Glick / LaValle) would guarantee and expand State support under the maintenance of effort provision for SUNY and CUNY. A.10631 / S.7236 (Glick / LaValle) would require the Governor to submit a five-year capital plan to the Legislature as part of the Executive Budget, for the fiscal year that begins on April 1, 2019, and every fifth year thereafter.

"We cannot simply get students on campus and then forget about them," commented Glick. "We need to make certain that SUNY and CUNY schools are properly supported and will assist our students to succeed. The Excelsior Scholarship program requires students to complete 30 credits each year and SUNY and CUNY need the resources to ensure sufficient additional course sections are available to guarantee availability to students and give ample State support to best educate the next generation."

A.10620 / S.7259-A

In 2011, as part of the NY-SUNY 2020 legislation, a maintenance of effort provision was enacted to ensure consistent State support for mandatory costs of SUNY and CUNY campuses. This bill clarifies what the Legislature intended to be covered under mandatory costs, including SUNY health science centers. Without this clarification, student tuition will continue to fund mandatory costs, rather than for expanding course offerings and hiring of world-class faculty.

A.10631/ S.7236

The last five-year capital plan for SUNY and CUNY was adopted in the 2008-2009 State Budget. Multi-year capital plans allow these institutions to appropriately plan capital expenditures over the course of several years. Under this bill, the Executive Budget would be required to contain a five-year capital plan for SUNY and CUNY beginning on the fiscal year that starts on April 1, 2019, and every fifth fiscal year thereafter. Additionally, each capital plan would be required to fund 100% of the critical maintenance needs identified by SUNY and CUNY. Capital investment in our public higher education systems demonstrates New York's commitment to their continued success, and is sorely needed.

"I urge the Governor to sign these bills into law to invest in our future and include an expanded maintenance of effort and a five-year capital plan to support New York students," Glick concluded.