NY State Senate Bill 2023-S4247

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to higher education
Feb 07, 2023	referred to education

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9615
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add Title 7 Art 116 §§5800 - 5804, Ed L

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides assistance for SUNY and CUNY students experiencing homelessness; designates liaison officers on campuses; creates systems for students experiencing homelessness to access support services and other resources available to the students.

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4247

SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing assistance
to students experiencing homelessness

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Relates to assistance for students experiencing homelessness

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends title 7 of the state Education Law by adding a new
article 116 which provides definition of terms "students experiencing
homelessness", "homeless children or youth", requires that SUNY and CUNY
hire at least one full-time equivalent staff member to act as a liaison
officer for current and incoming students experiencing homelessness, and
defines the requirements and responsibilities of those officers. This
section also requires professors and university staff to attend at least
one training per year offered by the liaison officer for current and

incoming students experiencing homelessness, as well as requires the
liaison officers of SUNY and CUNY to hire part-time adjunct-staff to
serve as regional contacts. This section sets the requirement to desig-
nate a campus contact person for current and incoming students experi-
encing homelessness and defines their responsibilities. This section
requires prioritization for the access to housing for students experi-
encing homelessness, demands priority enrollment and assistance with
college fees.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Each year, more than a million young people in the United States experi-
ence homelessness. Nearly 15 percent of New York's public college
students experienced homelessness even before Covid. As more New Yorkers
are on the brink of losing their housing, students need campus-level
support to help navigate the financial aid process and campus resources.

This bill will enhance the access to higher education for students expe-
riencing homelessness by establishing liaison officers at SUNY and CUNY
for current and incoming students experiencing homelessness to access
support services and other resources available to the students at the
university; coordinate Wish'the SUNY and CUNY on innovative programming
aimed at increasing access, enrollment, attendance and success in
college for students experiencing homelessness; provide professional
development and other technical assistance activities.

This bill will also require the SUNY and CUNY professors and university
staff to attend at least one training per year offered by the liaison
officer for current and incoming students experiencing homelessness.
Homeless higher education liaisons could help identify and support
students experiencing homelessness, and connect them to available
services and resources. A number of states have enacted laws that
require or encourage the appointment of higher education liaisons and
some states have informal networks of homeless higher education liai-
sons.
This bill also establishes part-time adjunct staff to serve as regional
contacts in each of ten economic development regions in New York, as
well as in New York City. The bill also requires the designation of a
campus contact person in each college who will institute best practices
to identify current and incoming students experiencing homelessness.

This bill also prioritizes students experiencing homelessness for access
to existing housing resources offered by the college and develops a plan
to connect students experiencing homelessness with external housing
resources when existing housing resources offered by the college are not
available.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
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.

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4247
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 7, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06611-03-3

 S. 4247                             2
 
   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 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
 S. 4247                             3

 SUPPORT THE LIAISON OFFICER TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING  HOME-
 LESSNESS  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 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
 S. 4247                             4
 
 THE COLLEGE ARE NOT AVAILABLE, INCLUDING THROUGH WORKING  WITH  EXISTING
 HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS OR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES.
   §  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.

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Senate Bill S4247

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S4247

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Andrew Gounardes

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S4247 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments