BILL NUMBER:  S3485

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act relating to creating the commission on
affordable college education to study the participation of community
colleges in the educational opportunity program; and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

To establish a temporary State commission to study the twelve SUNY
community colleges that have not participated in the Educational
Opportunity Program (EOP) and make recommendations for legislative
action based upon its findings.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of the bill states the Legislative findings.

Section 2 of the bill establishes the "Commission on Affordable
College Education" (the "Commission"), which is a temporary State
commission, that is empowered to examine, evaluate and make
recommendations concerning the twelve SUNY community college that do
not participate in EOP.

Section 3 of the bill prescribes the composition of the Commission,
which shall be 13 members, and the rules for appointment to the
              

Commission.

Section 4 of the bill provides that the Commission members shall
receive no compensation for their services, but are allowed
reimbursement for expenses.

Section 5 of the bill provides that the Commission is allowed to
employ personnel for the performance of its functions and that the
Commission possess the powers of a Legislative committee pursuant to
the Legislative Law.

Section 6 of the bill provides that the Commission is authorized to
undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses that it deems
relevant in cooperation with or by agreement with any other public or
private agency.

Section 7 of the bill requires the Commission to make a report of its
findings to the Governor and legislative leaders within one year after
the effective date of this act.

Section 8 of the bill provides that this act shall take effect on the
ninetieth day after it shall become a law and shall expire and be
deemed repealed two years after such effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :

None.

 JUSTIFICATION :

As college tuitions continue to increase throughout New York State,
youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are seeking more affordable
options for higher education. A popular alternative has become
pursuing a two-year degree at a local community college and then
transferring to a four-year college or university to complete the
remaining credits in route to a bachelor's degree. While this approach
sounds promising, students using such technique risk potentially
disqualifying themselves for essential financial and academic support
programs such as EOP and HEOP at their future college or university.

Criteria like the following place otherwise eligible underprivileged
students at a disadvantage:

"Applicants are eligible for EOP as a transfer student provided they
have been enrolled in Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), College
Discovery (CD), Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Search
for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) or a similar academic
and financial support program at their previous college. If the
applicants' previous college did not have EOP or a similar program,
Applicants may be considered for transfer eligibility and should
notify the college to which they are transferring of their interest."

SUNY has stated they may consider transfer applicants' eligibility for
EOP if their previous college did not have EOP or a similar program;
however, there is no clear policy posted on their website on how
eligibility would be determined.

Out of SUNY's 30 community colleges, the following two-year colleges
do not operate EOP programs: Cayuga Community College, Clinton
Community College, Columbia-Greene Community College, Corning
Community College, Herkimer County Community College, Jamestown
Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Nassau Community
College, North Country Community College, Rockland Community College,
Sullivan County Community College and Tompkins Cortland Community
College.

Eligibility criteria that unfairly burdens transfer student applicants
from certain community colleges and favors transfer student applicants
from EOP participating community colleges and four year colleges and
universities discourages the educational aspirations of many that
opportunity programs were designed to benefit. Throughout New York,
financially and academically disadvantaged students who attend or plan
to attend one of the twelve stated community colleges could eventually
risk missing out on tens of thousands dollars in academic and
financial support. Due to the significant disparity that can result
from community colleges not operating EOP, it's vital the State
evaluates the feasibility of mandating all SUNY community colleges to
participate in EOP or prohibiting eligibility criteria that require
transfer students to be previously enrolled in EOP or a similar
program.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become
a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after such
effective date.