Bill Text: NY A06576 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the general equivalency degree assistance pilot program; makes appropriation therefor.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-06 - referred to higher education [A06576 Detail]

Download: New_York-2015-A06576-Introduced.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         6576
                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                    March 27, 2015
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, GRAF, COOK, ROBERTS, GALEF, SCARBOR-
         OUGH,  GUNTHER, SKARTADOS, LUPINACCI, SCHIMEL -- Multi-Sponsored by --
         M. of A. GOTTFRIED, HOOPER, McDONOUGH, MOSLEY, RUSSELL, THIELE -- read
         once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
       AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
         general  equivalency degree assistance pilot program; making an appro-
         priation therefor; 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:
    1    Section 1.  The education law is amended by adding a new section  6311
    2  to read as follows:
    3    S  6311.  GENERAL  EQUIVALENCY  DEGREE  ASSISTANCE  PILOT  PROGRAM. 1.
    4  AUTHORIZATION. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR  REGULATION
    5  TO  THE  CONTRARY,  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES OF SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY
    6  COLLEGE IS AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM FOR ONLINE  EDUCATION
    7  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH OBTAINING THEIR GENERAL
    8  EQUIVALENCY DEGREE.
    9    2. TUITION. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY CHARGE TUITION FOR SUCH PROGRAM;
   10  PROVIDED THAT SUCH FEES SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY  DOLLARS  PER
   11  SEMESTER PER INDIVIDUAL ENROLLED IN SUCH PROGRAM.
   12    3.  CURRICULUM.  THE  BOARD  OF TRUSTEES SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A
   13  CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF EDUCATION NECESSARY TO PASS
   14  THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,  THAT  SUCH  CURRICULUM
   15  SHALL,  AT  A MINIMUM, INCLUDE A COURSE OF STUDY IN MATHEMATICS, ENGLISH
   16  READING AND COMPREHENSION, UNITED  STATES  AND  WORLD  HISTORY  AND  THE
   17  GENERAL SCIENCES.
   18    4.  WEBSITE.  (A)  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  SHALL  MAINTAIN A WEBSITE
   19  DISPLAYING THE CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTIONS ON  THE  RECOMMENDED  COURSE  OF
   20  STUDY,  QUIZZES AND PRACTICE TESTS ON THE SUBJECT MATERIAL, AND LINKS TO
   21  FREE TUTORIAL PROGRAMS ADJUDGED INFORMATIVE AND VALID BY THE BOARD.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD10133-01-5
       A. 6576                             2
    1    (B) EACH COURSE OF STUDY SHALL BE MAINTAINED UNDER ITS  OWN  DEDICATED
    2  WEBPAGE OR SECTION OF SUCH WEBSITE.
    3    (C) SUCH WEBSITE SHALL PROMINENTLY DISPLAY THE DATES, TIMES AND PLACES
    4  WHERE  THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM IS AVAILABLE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW
    5  A PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE MAY APPLY.
    6    (D) SUCH WEBSITE SHALL  BE  INTERACTIVE  IN  FORMAT  WITH  PROSPECTIVE
    7  CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM ABLE TO SUBMIT PRACTICE EXAMS
    8  AND QUIZZES FOR GRADING, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO SEEK TUTORIAL ASSIST-
    9  ANCE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER THROUGH ELECTRONIC MAIL.
   10    5.  TEACHING  ASSISTANTS. STUDENTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
   11  THAT MAINTAIN A GRADE POINT  AVERAGE  ABOVE  3.5  THROUGH  THE  SEMESTER
   12  PRECEDING THEIR APPLICATION AS A TEACHING ASSISTANT SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO
   13  PROVIDE TUTORIAL SERVICES TO PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES. THE COMPENSATION OF
   14  SUCH STUDENTS SHALL BE SET BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
   15    S 2. During the fourth year next succeeding the effective date of this
   16  act,  the  board  of  trustees of Suffolk county community college shall
   17  undertake or cause to be undertaken a study on the effectiveness of  the
   18  general  equivalency  degree assistance pilot program and its effects on
   19  ameliorating the number of high school dropouts without a general equiv-
   20  alency degree and shall prepare recommendations  for  the  governor  and
   21  legislature  on  whether  a  general equivalency degree assistance pilot
   22  program should be established statewide, and, if  so,  make  recommenda-
   23  tions as to provisions including state incentives for the program.
   24    S  3.  The  sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or so much
   25  thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any monies in
   26  the state treasury in the general  fund  to  the  credit  of  the  state
   27  purposes  fund,  not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately avail-
   28  able, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this  act.  Such
   29  monies  shall  be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on
   30  vouchers certified or approved by the comptroller of Suffolk  county  in
   31  the manner prescribed by law.
   32    S  4.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the first of September next
   33  succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall expire
   34  5 years after such effective date when upon such date the provisions  of
   35  this act shall be deemed repealed.