NY State Senate Bill 2025-S610

Senate Bill S610

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to the registration of new curricula or programs of study offered by a not-for-profit college or university

download bill text pdf

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 08, 2025	referred to higher education

2025-S610 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §210-d, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2021-2022: S6592
2023-2024: S3412

2025-S610 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the registration of new curricula or programs of study offered by a not-for-profit college or university; provides for the procedures to have such curricula or programs of study approved by the department of education.

2025-S610 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S610

SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to the
registration of new curricula or programs of study offered by a not-for-
profit college or university

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would amend the education law to create an expedited program
approval process for programs and institutions that meet certain crite-
ria.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the education law is by adding a new section 210-d to
permit new curriculum or programs of study, not in need of a master plan
amendment, introduced by a not-for-profit college or university that
has; maintained a physical presence in the state of New York for ten
years and has been operated by the same governing body for an equal
period of time, is accredited and has maintained accreditation with
Middle States Commission on Higher Education or another institutional

accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of the United States
Department of Education, to be deemed registered with the New York State
Department of Education forty-five days after notification of approval
by such college or university's governing body and submission of a
complete application for review. If the New York State Department of
Education determines, within forty-five days of submission, the new
curriculum or program of study is incomplete or insufficient, the
department will provide a written explanation to the institution upon
curing. The new curriculum or program of study shall be deemed regis-
tered with the department thirty days after resubmission, or earlier
upon the department's approval.

In addition, the Commissioner is directed to create and maintain a data-
base to provide updated information on the current status of an insti-
tution's submitted requests.

Section 2. Sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

As technology improves and the job market changes, New York not-for-pro-
fit colleges and universities need to have the flexibility to introduce
new programs and curriculum to meet the emerging demands of the 21'
century. Additionally, it is important to keep New York based institu-
tion a competitive in all educational fields. Alleviating program and
approval paperwork and wait times between New York based institutions:
and the New York State Education Department..'cam help ease' burdens on
both entities.' Expediting the program Approval progress will allow for
institutions to introduce new curriculum and programs quicker in order
to meet need  and demands while also remaining competitive in the field
Of higher education.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: A.8389/S.6592 - Referred to Higher Education.

2023-2024: A3282/S.3412 - Referred to Higher Education.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:'

Possible administrative costs Off Set by an expedited process.:

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 90 days after it shall have become law.
Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or'repeal otany rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.

2025-S610 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    610
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to  the  registration  of
   new curricula or programs of study offered by a not-for-profit college
   or university

   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 section  210-d
 to read as follows:
   §  210-D.  REGISTRATION OF CURRICULA. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE
 OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, ANY NEW CURRICULUM OR  PROGRAM  OF  STUDY
 OFFERED  BY  ANY  NOT-FOR-PROFIT  COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CHARTERED BY THE
 REGENTS OR INCORPORATED BY SPECIAL ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT DOES  NOT
 REQUIRE  A MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-
 SEVEN OF THIS PART, CHARTER AMENDMENT PURSUANT TO  SECTION  TWO  HUNDRED
 SIXTEEN  OF  THIS  PART,  OR LEAD TO PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, AND THAT IS
 APPROVED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE CITY  UNIVERSITY
 BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES, OR THE TRUSTEES OR GOVERNING BODY OF ANY OTHER NOT-
 FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CHARTERED BY THE REGENTS WHICH (A)  HAS
 MAINTAINED  A PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN THE STATE FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECED-
 ING TEN YEARS AND HAS BEEN OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY BY THE  SAME  GOVERNING
 BODY  DURING  THE SAME IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING TEN-YEAR PERIOD, AND (B) IS
 ACCREDITED AND HAS CONTINUED ITS  ACCREDITATION  BY  THE  MIDDLE  STATES
 COMMISSION  ON  HIGHER  EDUCATION  OR  ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITING
 AGENCY RECOGNIZED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED  STATES  DEPARTMENT  OF
 EDUCATION  OR  THE  DEPARTMENT  FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING TEN YEARS,
 SHALL BE DEEMED REGISTERED WITH THE  DEPARTMENT  FORTY-FIVE  DAYS  AFTER
 NOTIFICATION  OF APPROVAL BY SUCH COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY'S GOVERNING BODY
 AND SUBMISSION OF A COMPLETE APPLICATION FOR REVIEW.  IF  WITHIN  FORTY-
 FIVE DAYS OF SUBMISSION, THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THE NEW CURRICULUM OR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD01568-01-5
 S. 610                              2
 
 PROGRAM OF STUDY TO BE INCOMPLETE OR INSUFFICIENT, A WRITTEN EXPLANATION
 SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE INSTITUTION. UPON CURING, THE NEW CURRICULUM OR
 PROGRAM  OF  STUDY SHALL BE DEEMED REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT THIRTY
 DAYS AFTER RESUBMISSION, OR EARLIER UPON THE DEPARTMENT'S APPROVAL.
   2.  ANY  NOT-FOR-PROFIT  COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY THAT MEETS THE CRITERIA
 SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION WHICH HAS RECEIVED  CURRIC-
 ULUM OR PROGRAM APPROVAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND SEEKS TO OFFER THE SAME
 CURRICULUM  OR  PROGRAM  IN A DISTANCE LEARNING FORMAT SHALL NOT NEED TO
 HAVE SUCH CURRICULUM OR PROGRAM RE-APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, BUT SHALL
 INFORM THE DEPARTMENT OF SUCH COLLEGE'S OR UNIVERSITY'S INTENT TO  OFFER
 SUCH  PROGRAM  IN  SUCH  FORMAT  WITHIN  THIRTY  DAYS PRIOR TO PROVIDING
 DISTANCE LEARNING.
   3. IF A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY  IS  PLACED  ON  PROBATION  OR  HAS  ITS
 ACCREDITATION  TERMINATED  BY THE INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY, SUCH
 COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY SHALL NOTIFY THE REGENTS IN WRITING NO LATER  THAN
 THIRTY DAYS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF ITS PROBATIONARY STATUS OR LOSS OF
 ACCREDITATION BY THE INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY.
   4.  ANY  COLLEGE  OR  UNIVERSITY WHICH HAS ITS ACCREDITATION PLACED ON
 PROBATION OR TERMINATED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY  OR  THE
 EDUCATION  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  BE  SUBJECT  TO THE COMMISSIONER'S PROGRAM
 APPROVAL UNTIL IT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM PROBATION OR  REGAINED  ACCREDI-
 TATION  BY THE INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY OR THE EDUCATION DEPART-
 MENT, AND SHALL FURTHER REMAIN SUBJECT TO  SUCH  COMMISSIONER'S  PROGRAM
 APPROVAL  UNTIL  IT  HAS CONTINUED WITHOUT PROBATION FOR A PERIOD OF NOT
 LESS THAN SIX YEARS.
   5. IF A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION INTENDS TO OFFER
 OR INSTITUTE  AN  ADDITIONAL  DEGREE  OR  PROGRAM  WHICH  CONSTITUTES  A
 SUBSTANTIVE  CHANGE  AS  DEFINED  AND  DETERMINED  BY  THE INSTITUTIONAL
 ACCREDITING AGENCY, THEN SUCH COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY  SHALL  PROVIDE  THE
 COMMISSIONER  WITH  COPIES  OF ANY REPORTS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH
 THE INSTITUTIONAL  ACCREDITING  AGENCY  AS  PART  OF  THE  INSTITUTIONAL
 ACCREDITING  AGENCY'S SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE REVIEW PROCESS AND SHALL INFORM
 THE COMMISSIONER WHEN THE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE IS APPROVED.
   6. ANY SUCH COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY THAT DOES NOT  SATISFY  ALL  OF  THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA
 ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  REGENTS  AND  COMMISSIONER  FOR  ACADEMIC  PROGRAM
 APPROVAL. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT  THE  DEPART-
 MENT'S  EXISTING  AUTHORITY  TO  INVESTIGATE  A COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE
 INSTITUTION, OR ANY PROGRAM OFFERED, INCLUDING THE AUTHORITY TO DEREGIS-
 TER THE PROGRAM.
   7. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A DATABASE,  ACCESSI-
 BLE  TO INSTITUTIONS SEEKING CURRICULUM OR PROGRAM APPROVAL, WHICH SHALL
 PROVIDE UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT STATUS  OF  AN  INSTITUTION'S
 SUBMITTED  REQUESTS.  TO  THE  EXTENT  PRACTICABLE,  THE  DATABASE SHALL
 INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
   (A) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND DATE OF RECEIPT OF SUBMISSION;
   (B) THE INITIAL REVIEW BY AN OFFICE OF COLLEGE AND  UNIVERSITY  EVALU-
 ATION;
   (C)  QUESTIONS  FROM  THE  DEPARTMENT  TO THE SPECIFIC INSTITUTION AND
 RECEIPT OF ANSWERS PROVIDED BY THE INSTITUTION IN RESPONSE; AND
   (D) ANY REMARKS AND THE FINAL DECISION MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT  REGARD-
 ING A CURRICULUM'S OR PROGRAM'S APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.
   8. THE COMMISSIONER IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGU-
 LATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.    Effective  immediately,  the  addition,  amendment
 S. 610                              3

 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
 of  this  act  on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.

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