S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4029
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 9, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to  establishing  liaison
   officers,  regional  contacts,  and  campus contacts to assist college
   students experiencing homelessness to find housing

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 127-A
 to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 127-A
                    STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
 SECTION 6360. DEFINITION.
         6361. LIAISON OFFICERS, REGIONAL CONTACTS, AND CAMPUS CONTACTS.
         6362. ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
         6363. PRIORITY ENROLLMENT.
         6364. ASSISTANCE WITH COLLEGE  FEES  FOR  STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING
                 HOMELESSNESS.
         6365. PILOT  PROGRAM  TO  INCREASE  ENROLLMENT,  ATTENDANCE, AND
                 SUCCESS IN COLLEGE.
   § 6360. DEFINITION. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE TERM "STUDENTS  EXPE-
 RIENCING HOMELESSNESS" MEANS STUDENTS WHO AT ANY TIME DURING THE CURRENT
 SCHOOL  YEAR  OR  THE  TWENTY-FOUR  MONTHS  IMMEDIATELY  PRECEDING THEIR
 ENROLLMENT IN COLLEGE HAVE BEEN HOMELESS,  AS  DEFINED  BY  THE  MEANING
 ASSIGNED  TO  THE  TERM  "HOMELESS  CHILDREN AND YOUTHS" UNDER 42 U.S.C.
 SECTION 11434A AND INCLUDES STUDENTS WHO RESIDE  IN  A  STUDENT  HOUSING
 FACILITY  MAINTAINED  BY  A  COLLEGE DURING AN ACADEMIC TERM BUT WHO ARE
 HOMELESS BETWEEN ACADEMIC TERMS.
   § 6361. LIAISON OFFICERS, REGIONAL CONTACTS, AND CAMPUS  CONTACTS.  1.
 THE  STATE  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
 EACH SHALL HIRE AT LEAST ONE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STAFF MEMBER TO ACT AS
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08505-01-3
 A. 4029                             2
              

 
 A LIAISON OFFICER FOR CURRENT AND INCOMING STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING  HOME-
 LESSNESS.
   2. THE LIAISON OFFICER SHALL:
   (A)  HAVE  KNOWLEDGE  OF AND EXPERTISE IN: FEDERAL AND STATE FINANCIAL
 AID ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,  INCLUDING  THEIR
 ELIGIBILITY  AS INDEPENDENT STUDENTS UNDER SECTION 1087VV OF THE FEDERAL
 HIGHER EDUCATION ACT; SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING HEALTH SERVICES; HOUS-
 ING RESOURCES OFFERED BY THE COLLEGE  AND  EXTERNAL  HOUSING  RESOURCES,
 INCLUDING  HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES AND EXISTING HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR
 HOMELESS OR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS  OR  FAMILIES;  MEAL  PLAN  AND  FOOD
 PROGRAMS  AND  ASSISTANCE,  COUNSELING  SERVICES, ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, AND
 OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY; AND BEST  PRAC-
 TICES TO IDENTIFY AND SERVE STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WITH THE
 GOAL OF MAXIMIZING THEIR ENROLLMENT, RETENTION, AND SUCCESS IN COLLEGE;
   (B)  CREATE  SYSTEMS  FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO ACCESS
 SUPPORT SERVICES AND OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE  STUDENTS  AT  THE
 UNIVERSITY;  COORDINATE  WITH  THE  STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE
 CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK ON INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING AIMED AT  INCREAS-
 ING  ACCESS,  ENROLLMENT, ATTENDANCE AND SUCCESS IN COLLEGE FOR STUDENTS
 EXPERIENCING  HOMELESSNESS,  INCLUDING  PILOT  INITIATIVES  PURSUANT  TO
 SECTION SIXTY-THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE;
   (C)  PROVIDE  PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
 ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY  OF  CAMPUS  CONTACT  PERSONS  FOR
 CURRENT AND INCOMING STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AT THE UNIVERSI-
 TY, INSTITUTE BEST PRACTICES TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESS-
 NESS,  AND  HAVE  INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCIAL AID, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND
 BEST PRACTICES AS DESIGNATED BY PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION;
   (D) PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND  OTHER  TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE
 ACTIVITIES  TO  PROFESSORS  AND UNIVERSITY STAFF WORKING IN THE AREAS OF
 FINANCIAL AID, HOUSING, STUDENT  SERVICES,  AND  TEACHING  AND  ACADEMIC
 SUPPORT REGARDING THE CHARACTERISTICS, NEEDS, STRENGTHS, AND IDENTIFICA-
 TION OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS;
   (E)  COMPLETE  NECESSARY  ADMINISTRATIVE  TASKS  AND  DATA  COLLECTION
 RELATED TO STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING  HOMELESSNESS,  INCLUDING  DEVELOPING,
 ADMINISTERING,  AND ANALYZING THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY ANNUALLY, COLLABO-
 RATIVELY WITH CAMPUS CONTACTS DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF
 THIS SECTION, SOCIAL WORK INTERNS, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL STAFF, TO COLLECT
 DATA ON STUDENT ACCESS  TO  RESOURCES  NEEDED  TO  ADDRESS  HOMELESSNESS
 ACROSS  THE  STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW
 YORK; AND
   (F) MAKE AVAILABLE AN ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SURVEY ADMINISTERED  PURSU-
 ANT  TO  PARAGRAPH  (E) OF THIS SUBDIVISION ON THE WEBSITES OF THE STATE
 UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.
   3. THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE  CITY  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW
 YORK  EACH  SHALL  REQUIRE  PROFESSORS AND UNIVERSITY STAFF TO ATTEND AT
 LEAST ONE TRAINING PER YEAR OFFERED BY THE LIAISON OFFICER  FOR  CURRENT
 AND INCOMING STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
   4. THE LIAISON OFFICER FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SHALL HIRE
 ONE  PART-TIME ADJUNCT STAFF TO SERVE AS REGIONAL CONTACT IN EACH OF TEN
 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGIONS. SUCH REGIONAL CONTACTS SHALL SUPERVISE THE
 CAMPUS CONTACTS IN THEIR REGION  AND  SUPPORT  THE  LIAISON  OFFICER  TO
 ENSURE  THAT STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE IDENTIFIED, INFORMED
 OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND ABLE TO ACCESS SUPPORT  SERVICES  AND
 OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE REGION.
   5.  THE LIAISON OFFICER FOR THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SHALL HIRE
 FIVE PART-TIME  ADJUNCT  STAFF  TO  SERVE  AS  REGIONAL  CONTACTS.  SUCH
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 REGIONAL  CONTACTS  SHALL SUPERVISE THE CAMPUS CONTACTS IN THEIR REGIONS
 AND SUPPORT THE LIAISON OFFICER TO  ENSURE  THAT  STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING
 HOMELESSNESS ARE IDENTIFIED, INFORMED OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND
 ABLE  TO  ACCESS  SUPPORT  SERVICES AND OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE
 REGION.
   6. EACH COLLEGE SHALL DESIGNATE AND MAY PROVIDE A STIPEND TO AT  LEAST
 ONE PERSON, WHO MAY BE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COLLEGE OR AN UNDERGRADUATE OR
 GRADUATE LEVEL STUDENT OF ANY COLLEGE WHO IS COMPLETING AN INTERNSHIP AS
 PART  OF OBTAINING A DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK OR A RELATED FIELD, TO ACT AS
 A CAMPUS CONTACT PERSON FOR CURRENT AND INCOMING  STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING
 HOMELESSNESS.
   7. THE CAMPUS CONTACT PERSON SHALL:
   (A) INSTITUTE BEST PRACTICES TO IDENTIFY CURRENT AND INCOMING STUDENTS
 EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING:
   (I)  POSTING  FLYERS,  POSTERS,  AND OTHER WRITTEN MATERIALS ABOUT THE
 RIGHTS OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS  USING  UNDERSTANDABLE  AND
 CULTURALLY  COMPETENT LANGUAGE, IN LOCATIONS ON CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMU-
 NITY WHERE STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE LIKELY TO SEE THEM;
   (II) POSTING, USING UNDERSTANDABLE AND CULTURALLY  COMPETENT  INFORMA-
 TION,  ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON COLLEGE
 WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA;
   (III) COLLABORATING WITH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
 PROVIDING FOOD, HOUSING, OR OTHER SERVICES ON CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNI-
 TY; AND
   (IV) SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT THE  RIGHTS  OF  STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING
 HOMELESSNESS  AND  THE PROCESS TO REFER STUDENTS WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING
 HOMELESSNESS TO THE CAMPUS CONTACT  WITH  PROFESSORS  AND  OTHER  CAMPUS
 STAFF;
   (B)   PROVIDE  STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING  HOMELESSNESS  WITH  INFORMATION
 REGARDING THEIR FEDERAL AND STATE FINANCIAL AID  ELIGIBILITY,  INCLUDING
 THEIR  ELIGIBILITY  AS  INDEPENDENT STUDENTS UNDER SECTION 1087VV OF THE
 FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION ACT, AND ASSISTANCE TO SUCH STUDENTS TO  ENSURE
 THEY  ARE  ABLE TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE FEDERAL AND STATE FINANCIAL AID
 AND ALL AVAILABLE ON AND OFF CAMPUS SERVICES FOR WHICH THEY  ARE  ELIGI-
 BLE;
   (C)   PROVIDE  STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING  HOMELESSNESS  WITH  INFORMATION
 REGARDING SUPPORT SERVICES, HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING  RESOURCES  OFFERED
 BY  THE  COLLEGE  AND  EXTERNAL  HOUSING  RESOURCES,  HOUSING NAVIGATION
 SERVICES AND EXISTING HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS OR LOW-INCOME  INDI-
 VIDUALS  OR  FAMILIES, MEAL PLAN AND FOOD PROGRAMS AND ASSISTANCE, COUN-
 SELING SERVICES, ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, AND OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE
 STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE;
   (D)  PARTICIPATE  IN  PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT  AND  OTHER  TECHNICAL
 ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY THE LIAISON OFFICER; AND
   (E)    CONTACT   LIAISONS   DESIGNATED   UNDER   42   U.S.C.   SECTION
 11432(G)(1)(J)(II) AS NECESSARY  TO  FACILITATE  SUCCESSFUL  TRANSITIONS
 FROM  SECONDARY  TO  POSTSECONDARY  EDUCATION  FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING
 HOMELESSNESS.
   § 6362. ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. EACH
 COLLEGE SHALL:
   1. PRIORITIZE STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR ACCESS TO  EXIST-
 ING  HOUSING  RESOURCES  OFFERED  BY  THE COLLEGE, AS NEEDED, DURING AND
 BETWEEN ACADEMIC TERMS, INCLUDING GRANTING THEM FIRST PRIORITY FOR HOUS-
 ING FACILITIES THAT REMAIN OPEN FOR OCCUPATION DURING THE MOST DAYS IN A
 CALENDAR YEAR; AND
 A. 4029                             4
 
   2. DEVELOP A PLAN TO CONNECT STUDENTS EXPERIENCING  HOMELESSNESS  WITH
 EXTERNAL  HOUSING  RESOURCES  WHEN EXISTING HOUSING RESOURCES OFFERED BY
 THE COLLEGE ARE NOT AVAILABLE, INCLUDING THROUGH WORKING  WITH  EXISTING
 HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS OR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES.
   § 6363. PRIORITY  ENROLLMENT. EACH COLLEGE THAT ADMINISTERS A PRIORITY
 ENROLLMENT SYSTEM SHALL GRANT PRIORITY IN THAT SYSTEM FOR ENROLLMENT  IN
 CLASSES TO STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
   § 6364. ASSISTANCE  WITH  COLLEGE FEES FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOME-
 LESSNESS. FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, EACH COLLEGE SHALL:
   1. WAIVE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND FEES BASED ON  ENROLLMENT,  INCLUDING
 HEALTH  AND WELLNESS, STUDENT ACTIVITY, CONSOLIDATED SERVICES, AND TECH-
 NOLOGY FEES, THAT ARE NOT FULLY COVERED BY  A  STUDENT'S  FINANCIAL  AID
 PACKAGE; AND
   2. DEFER THE PAYMENT OF ANY FEE OR DEPOSIT, INCLUDING HOUSING FEES AND
 DEPOSITS,  THAT  ARE  COVERED BY A STUDENT'S FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE UNTIL
 THE COLLEGE RECEIVES THE AID, SUCH THAT STUDENTS SHALL  NOT  INCUR  LATE
 FEES ON PAYMENTS DELAYED WHILE AWAITING DISBURSEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID.
   § 6365. PILOT  PROGRAM TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND SUCCESS
 IN COLLEGE. 1. THE DEPARTMENT, WHEN MONIES THEREFORE HAVE BEEN APPROPRI-
 ATED BY THE LEGISLATURE OR ARE OTHERWISE AVAILABLE, IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED
 TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE ENROLLMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND
 SUCCESS IN COLLEGE OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.   CAMPUSES  OF
 THE  STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
 SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR GRANTS  THROUGH  THE  PILOT  PROGRAM  AND
 SHALL ACCOMMODATE UP TO FIVE HUNDRED STUDENTS. APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSED
 ACTIVITIES  SHALL BE COORDINATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY LIAISON OFFICER AND
 THE CAMPUS CONTACT PERSON DESIGNATED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  SIXTY-THREE
 HUNDRED  SIXTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL EVALUATE APPLI-
 CATIONS AND AWARD FUNDS BASED ON QUALITY, NEED, AND COMPLIANCE WITH  THE
 ELEMENTS OUTLINED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   2. APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
   (A)  STAFFING  WITH SUFFICIENT CAPACITY AND AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT ALL
 THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES;
   (B) COORDINATION WITH THE LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT OF HOME-
 LESS SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,  AND  PUBLIC  AND  PRIVATE
 AGENCIES  THAT  PROVIDE  HOUSING,  SHELTER,  OR SERVICES FOR HOMELESS OR
 LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES;
   (C) HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES TO ASSIST STUDENTS TO FIND FUNDING FOR
 HOUSING RESOURCES OFFERED BY THE COLLEGE AND EXTERNAL HOUSING RESOURCES,
 INCLUDING WORKING WITH EXISTING HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS OR LOW-IN-
 COME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES;
   (D) OUTREACH TO AND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE  PARENTS,  INCLUDING
 HOUSING SERVICES;
   (E) COLLABORATION WITH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS, OR
 STUDENT  SUPPORT  PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT STUDENTS EXPERIENCING
 HOMELESSNESS;
   (F) PLANS TO IMPLEMENT A QUESTIONNAIRE FOR ALL ENROLLING STUDENTS THAT
 WILL HELP DETERMINE WHETHER ENROLLING STUDENTS  ARE  EXPERIENCING  HOME-
 LESSNESS;
   (G)  DESIGNATED FUNDING FOR HOUSING, SUCH AS TEMPORARY DORMITORY ROOMS
 WHILE HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES TAKE PLACE, HOUSING IN THE  COMMUNITY,
 HOST  HOMES,  HOUSING  DURING  ACADEMIC BREAKS, AND FEES ASSOCIATED WITH
 HOUSING, INCLUDING APPLICATION FEES AND MOVE-IN STIPENDS  FOR  FURNITURE
 AND SUPPLIES; AND
   (H)  FINANCIAL  LITERACY,  SOFT  SKILLS,  AND  LIFE  SKILLS  TRAINING,
 PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT OR IN COLLABORATION WITH A COMMUNITY AGENCY.
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   3. APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
   (A)  PLANS  TO  INCORPORATE AND APPROPRIATELY SUPERVISE GRADUATE-LEVEL
 INTERNS, PARTICULARLY SOCIAL  WORK  INTERNS,  TO  UNDERTAKE  APPROPRIATE
 ACTIVITIES;
   (B)  PLANS  TO  DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDLORDS AND INCENTIVES TO
 HOUSE COLLEGE STUDENTS, INCLUDING IN COLLABORATION WITH EXISTING HOUSING
 PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS OR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES; AND
   (C) VOLUNTARY QUESTIONS  ABOUT  HOMELESSNESS  ON  COLLEGE  APPLICATION
 FORMS.
   4.  APPLICANTS  SHALL  SUBMIT  AN  ANNUAL REPORT OF DATA REGARDING THE
 ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND  SERVICES  PROVIDED  TO  STUDENTS  IN  THE  PILOT
 PROGRAM  THAT  ARE  NECESSARY TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD,
 HOUSING, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND RELATED SERVICES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.