BILL NUMBER:S2854

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
authorizing the state university trustees to make courses available for
certain persons sixty years of age or over

PURPOSE:   This bill will permit the trustees of the State University to
allow senior citizens to take courses for credit, on  a  space-available
basis, without charge, at State-operated campuses.

SUMMARY  OF  PROVISIONS:   Amends § 355 of the Education Law to add for-
credit courses (to a maximum of nine credit hours per semester)  to  the
existing provisions which authorize senior citizens to audit courses, on
a space available basis, at no charge.

JUSTIFICATION:    In  1974,  New York State took a giant step forward by
adopting Chapter 1002 of the Laws of 1974 permitting senior citizens  to
audit  courses  at  the State University without tuition, examination or
credit, on a space available basis. On approving that  legislation,  the
Governor  noted  that, "Education can be a major factor in helping older
people maintain their mental alertness, {and}  continue  active  partic-
ipation in the affairs of their communities. In many instances, however,
financial  and  formal educational barriers have rendered such education
opportunity inaccessible."

Although the 1974 law began an important step forward,  senior  citizens
              

have  so far been denied the opportunity to further their education on a
for-credit basis. This bill would extend to persons age 60 and over  the
ability  to  attend  courses  at no charge at the State University, on a
space-available basis, while receiving credit  for  their  course  work.
This  is  a logical continuation of our efforts to integrate our elderly
collegians fully into the mainstream of academic life. It is time to  to
the  privileges  of  an  auditor,  but also to the opportunities of full
participation in their course work.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:    S.3485/A.4360  of  2011-2012;  S.1388/A.3951  of
2009-2010,   S.2510/A.4820   of   2007-08,   S.2481/A.5079  of  2005-06,
S.1532/A.3267 of 2003-04, S.2841/A.5383  of  2001-02,  S.1836/A.3165  of
1999-2000,   S.2338/A.3768   of   1997-98,  S.1631/A.11268  of  1995-96,
S.2191/A.3788 of 1993-94, S.2751/A.4204 of 1991-1992  and  S.2052/A.3101
of  1989-1990.  Has  passed  the  Senate  in  varying versions from 1980
through 2008.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:   There is  no  direct  fiscal  impact,  since  all
attendance would be on a space-available basis.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None

EFFECTIVE  DATE:   April next succeeding the date on which it shall have
become law.