S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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9615
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 26, 2024
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Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing assistance
to students experiencing homelessness
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Title 7 of the education law is amended by adding a new
article 116 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 116
HOMELESS STUDENT HOUSING ACCESS AND ASSISTANCE
SECTION 5800. DEFINITION.
5801. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICERS, REGIONAL CONTACTS, AND
CAMPUS CONTACTS TO ASSIST STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOME-
LESSNESS.
5802. ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
5803. PRIORITY ENROLLMENT.
5804. ASSISTANCE WITH COLLEGE FEES FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
§ 5800. DEFINITION. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE TERM
"STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS" SHALL MEAN STUDENTS WHO AT ANY TIME
DURING THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR OR THE TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS IMMEDIATELY
PRECEDING THEIR ENROLLMENT IN COLLEGE HAVE BEEN "HOMELESS CHILDREN OR
YOUTH" AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED 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.
§ 5801. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICERS, REGIONAL CONTACTS, AND CAMPUS
CONTACTS TO ASSIST STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. 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 A LIAISON
OFFICER FOR CURRENT AND INCOMING STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
2. THE LIAISON OFFICER SHALL:
(A) HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF AND EXPERTISE IN FEDERAL AND STATE FINANCIAL AID
ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING THEIR
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06611-03-3
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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 AS OUTLINED IN A
PILOT PROGRAM TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND SUCCESS IN COLLEGE
FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS;
(C) PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE CAMPUS CONTACT PERSONS FOR CURRENT AND INCOMING
STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AT THE UNIVERSITY. INSTITUTE BEST
PRACTICES TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE INFOR-
MATION ABOUT FINANCIAL AID, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND BEST PRACTICES
DESCRIBED 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 CONTACTS IN EACH OF TEN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGIONS. 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.
5. THE LIAISON OFFICER FOR THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SHALL HIRE
FIVE PART-TIME ADJUNCT STAFF TO SERVE AS REGIONAL CONTACTS. REGIONAL
CONTACTS SHALL SUPERVISE THE CAMPUS CONTACTS IN THEIR REGIONS AND
SUPPORT THE LIAISON OFFICER TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOME-
LESSNESS ARE IDENTIFIED, INFORMED OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND
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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 INFORMATION
ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON COLLEGE
WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA;
(III) COLLABORATING WITH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND 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.
§ 5802. 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
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.
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§ 5803. PRIORITY ENROLLMENT. EACH COLLEGE THAT ADMINISTERS A PRIORITY
ENROLLMENT SYSTEM SHALL GRANT PRIORITY IN THAT SYSTEM FOR ENROLLMENT IN
CLASSES TO STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
§ 5804. 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 WILL NOT INCUR LATE
FEES ON PAYMENTS DELAYED WHILE AWAITING DISBURSEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to the
academic year next succeeding the date on which this act shall have
become a law.