S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                   4659
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 5, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, COOK, GALEF, GUNTHER -- Multi-Spon-
   sored by -- M.  of A. GOTTFRIED, McDONOUGH,  MOSLEY,  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:
 
   Section  1.  The education law is amended by adding a new section 6311
 to read as follows:
   § 6311.  GENERAL  EQUIVALENCY  DEGREE  ASSISTANCE  PILOT  PROGRAM.  1.
 AUTHORIZATION.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW, RULE OR REGULATION
 TO THE CONTRARY, THE BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  OF  SUFFOLK  COUNTY  COMMUNITY
 COLLEGE  IS AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM FOR ONLINE EDUCATION
 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH  OBTAINING  THEIR  GENERAL
 EQUIVALENCY DEGREE.
   2. TUITION. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY CHARGE TUITION FOR SUCH PROGRAM;
 PROVIDED  THAT  SUCH FEES SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS PER
 SEMESTER PER INDIVIDUAL ENROLLED IN SUCH PROGRAM.
   3. CURRICULUM. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL  DEVELOP  AND  IMPLEMENT  A
 CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF EDUCATION NECESSARY TO PASS
 THE  GENERAL  EQUIVALENCY  EXAM; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH CURRICULUM
 SHALL, AT A MINIMUM, INCLUDE A COURSE OF STUDY IN  MATHEMATICS,  ENGLISH
 READING  AND  COMPREHENSION,  UNITED  STATES  AND  WORLD HISTORY AND THE
 GENERAL SCIENCES.
   4. WEBSITE. (A)  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  SHALL  MAINTAIN  A  WEBSITE
 DISPLAYING  THE  CURRICULUM,  INSTRUCTIONS  ON THE RECOMMENDED COURSE OF
 STUDY, QUIZZES AND PRACTICE TESTS ON THE SUBJECT MATERIAL, AND LINKS  TO
 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.
                                                            LBD08443-01-9
              

 A. 4659                             2
 
   (B)  EACH  COURSE OF STUDY SHALL BE MAINTAINED UNDER ITS OWN DEDICATED
 WEBPAGE OR SECTION OF SUCH WEBSITE.
   (C) SUCH WEBSITE SHALL PROMINENTLY DISPLAY THE DATES, TIMES AND PLACES
 WHERE  THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM IS AVAILABLE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW
 A PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE MAY APPLY.
   (D) SUCH WEBSITE SHALL  BE  INTERACTIVE  IN  FORMAT  WITH  PROSPECTIVE
 CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM ABLE TO SUBMIT PRACTICE EXAMS
 AND QUIZZES FOR GRADING, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO SEEK TUTORIAL ASSIST-
 ANCE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER THROUGH ELECTRONIC MAIL.
   5.  TEACHING  ASSISTANTS. STUDENTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
 THAT MAINTAIN A GRADE POINT  AVERAGE  ABOVE  3.5  THROUGH  THE  SEMESTER
 PRECEDING THEIR APPLICATION AS A TEACHING ASSISTANT SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO
 PROVIDE TUTORIAL SERVICES TO PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES. THE COMPENSATION OF
 SUCH STUDENTS SHALL BE SET BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
   § 2. During the fourth year next succeeding the effective date of this
 act,  the  board  of  trustees of Suffolk county community college shall
 undertake or cause to be undertaken a study on the effectiveness of  the
 general  equivalency  degree assistance pilot program and its effects on
 ameliorating the number of high school dropouts without a general equiv-
 alency degree and shall prepare recommendations  for  the  governor  and
 legislature  on  whether  a  general equivalency degree assistance pilot
 program should be established statewide, and, if  so,  make  recommenda-
 tions as to provisions including state incentives for the program.
   §  3.  The  sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or so much
 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any monies in
 the state treasury in the general  fund  to  the  credit  of  the  state
 purposes  fund,  not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately avail-
 able, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this  act.  Such
 monies  shall  be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on
 vouchers certified or approved by the comptroller of Suffolk  county  in
 the manner prescribed by law.
   §  4.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the first of September next
 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall expire
 5 years after such effective date when upon such date the provisions  of
 this act shall be deemed repealed.