S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
874
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the state university
of New York educational opportunity centers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 352 of the education law, as
amended by a chapter of the laws of 2020 amending the education law
relating to the state university of New York educational opportunity
centers, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 4549 and A. 9804,
is amended to read as follows:
3. The state university shall consist of the four university centers
at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook, the designated colleges
of arts and sciences at Brockport, Buffalo, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo,
New Paltz, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam and
Purchase, empire state college, the agricultural and technical colleges
at Alfred, Canton, Cobleskill, Delhi, Farmingdale and Morrisville, down-
state medical center, upstate medical center, the college of optometry,
the college of environmental science and forestry, maritime college, the
college of technology at Utica/Rome, the statutory or contract colleges
at Cornell university and Alfred university, and such additional univer-
sities, colleges and other institutions, facilities and research centers
as have been or hereafter may be acquired, established, operated or
contracted to be operated for the state by the state university trus-
tees[, including, but not limited to educational opportunity centers as
defined in this article].
§ 2. Section 355-d of the education law, as added by a chapter of the
laws of 2020 amending the education law relating to the state university
of New York educational opportunity centers, as proposed in legislative
bills numbers S. 4549 and A. 9804, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07160-01-1
S. 874 2
§ 355-d. Educational opportunity centers. 1. There shall be created
within the state university of New York a comprehensive system of
[tuition free] higher education [institutions providing] programs and
services that promote the growth and stability of the state's educa-
tionally and economically challenged communities as referred to in this
section as educational opportunity centers.
2. Such educational opportunity centers shall be managed and super-
vised by the state university and shall provide programs and services
that include, but are not limited to THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED THAT THE
STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL HAVE THE DISCRETION TO DETERMINE THE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES OFFERED AT EACH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER:
(a) academic programs leading to and increasing persistence in higher
education;
(b) vocational programs leading to career pathways, gainful employment
and self-sufficiency;
(c) counseling and guidance services to enhance student retention;
(d) targeted services for business and industry to upgrade the skill
levels of emerging and incumbent workers such that they support
increased productivity and the creation and retention of job opportu-
nities;
(e) collaboration with secondary schools to assist in the academic
preparation of at-risk youth;
(f) collaborative programs with colleges and universities to increase
opportunities for center graduates for advanced placement and receipt of
academic credits for academic work completed at such center;
(g) collaboration with other state and local agencies, workforce
development boards and charitable organizations to meet emerging state-
wide priorities for serving the disadvantaged; and
(h) entrepreneurial training opportunities that may lead to community
economic development.
3. The state university shall formulate a plan and guidelines for the
organization, development, coordination and operation of educational
opportunity centers and may promulgate such rules and regulations neces-
sary to carry out the provisions of this section. Such plan shall
include:
(a) definition of academic and economic eligibility [provided, howev-
er, that state residency be a minimum eligibility requirement];
(b) procedures for the selection of such students for admission to a
center;
(c) program objectives including coordination with the university's
long range mission and goals; and
(d) program evaluation and reporting.
[4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the employees
of the educational opportunity centers operated in cooperation with the
city university of New York and/or a college within the city university
of New York shall be employees of the city university of New York and
shall retain their respective bargaining unit representation. Nothing
in this section shall be deemed to waive or impair any rights or bene-
fits of employees of the city university of New York that otherwise
would be available to them pursuant to the terms of agreements between
the certified representatives of such employees and the city university
of New York pursuant to article fourteen of the civil service law.]
§ 3. Nothing set forth in this act shall be construed to impede,
infringe or diminish the rights and benefits that accrue to employees
and employers through collective bargaining agreements, impact or change
S. 874 3
an employee's membership in a bargaining unit, or otherwise diminish the
integrity of the collective bargaining relationship.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
manner as a chapter of the laws of 2020 amending the education law
relating to the state university of New York educational opportunity
centers, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.4549 and A. 9804,
takes effect.