S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    803
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 11, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Higher Education
 
 AN  ACT relating to creating the commission on affordable college educa-
   tion to study the participation of community colleges  in  the  educa-
   tional  opportunity  program;  and  providing  for  the repeal of such
   provisions upon expiration thereof

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Legislative findings. The legislature hereby acknowledges
 the need for a college education to compete in today's market.  Further-
 more, residents throughout New York state are in need of more affordable
 higher  education  options.  Currently,  twelve  out  of the thirty SUNY
 community colleges do not participate  in  the  Educational  Opportunity
 Programs  (EOP),  which provide vital financial and academic support for
 thousands  of  academic  and  economically  disadvantaged  New   Yorkers
 throughout  the  state.  Subsequently,  community  college students from
 those twelve two-year colleges, who seek to transfer  into  a  four-year
 school  as Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) or EOP applicants
 risk potentially disqualifying themselves for such financial and academ-
 ic support programs.
   § 2. A temporary state commission, to be known as the  "commission  on
 affordable  college education", is hereby established to examine, evalu-
 ate and make recommendations concerning the need  for  the  twelve  SUNY
 community  colleges to participate in EOP. The commission shall consider
 the need for additional legislation to amend current eligibility  crite-
 ria for transfer students.
   § 3. The commission shall consist of thirteen members, to be appointed
 as follows: three members to be appointed by the governor; three members
 to  be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; three members
 to be appointed by the speaker  of  the  assembly;  two  members  to  be
 appointed  by  the  minority leader of the senate; and two members to be

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00730-01-3
              

 A. 803                              2
 
 appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The members shall have
 demonstrated expertise in and experience in the field of  higher  educa-
 tion,  HEOP,  or EOP. A chairperson and vice-chairperson of such commis-
 sion  shall be elected by the majority of its members, all members being
 present.
   § 4. The members of the commission shall receive no  compensation  for
 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
 incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
   §  5.  The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel
 as it may deem necessary for the  performance  of  its  functions.  Such
 commission  may  meet  and hold public and/or private hearings within or
 without the state, and shall  have  all  the  powers  of  a  legislative
 committee pursuant to the legislative law.
   §  6.  For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission shall be
 authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or
 analyses it may deem relevant in cooperation with or by  agreement  with
 any other public or private agency.
   § 7. The commission shall make a report of its findings, including any
 recommendations  for  legislative  action  as  it may deem necessary and
 appropriate, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate  and
 the  speaker  of the assembly no later than one year after the effective
 date of this act.
   § 8. 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 date.