S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
S. 3233--A A. 5121--A
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
February 14, 2011
___________
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered print-
ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Educa-
tion -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance
with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the Committee
on Higher Education in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee
AN ACT in relation to establishing a task force to study the feasibility
of establishing a new college of the state university at the Southamp-
ton campus of Stony Brook University
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds
that since 2006, the state has invested more than $78 million to acquire
and establish a new campus as part of the state university at Southamp-
ton under the auspices of Stony Brook University. This investment
includes the purchase of the campus, a new library, renovated dormito-
ries and student center, a refurbished new fine arts building and thea-
ter, and other investments to the facilities and the physical plant.
The legislature further finds that it has made a commitment to main-
tain and expand opportunities for higher education at this campus.
Higher education is the key to economic recovery and the investment at
Southampton reflects the intent of the legislature that higher education
is a priority.
The state university has identified certain education programs,
including all residential facilities at the Southampton campus for
closure as a means to achieve certain savings. The legislature opposes
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03873-02-2
S. 3233--A 2 A. 5121--A
such closure. Therefore, the intent of this legislation is to establish
a task force to study the feasibility of establishing a new college of
the state university at Southampton as well as the feasibility of other
uses of the campus.
S 2. (a) There is hereby created a task force to study the establish-
ment of a new college of the state university at Southampton.
(1) Such task force shall consist of thirteen voting members to be
appointed by the governor as follows: one shall be appointed upon the
recommendation of the temporary president of the senate; one shall be
appointed upon the recommendation of the minority leader of the senate,
one shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the speaker of the
assembly, one shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the minority
leader of the assembly, one shall be appointed upon the recommendation
of the town board of the town of Southampton, one shall be appointed
upon the recommendation of the village board of the village of Southamp-
ton, one shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the tribal trus-
tees of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, one shall be a resident of the
town of Southampton, one shall be a member of a local business organiza-
tion, one shall be a local environmental representative, one shall be
appointed upon the recommendation of the chancellor of the state univer-
sity, one shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the president of
Stony Brook University, and one shall be a member of a local civic asso-
ciation.
(2) All members of the task force shall be appointed within 30 days of
the effective date of this act. The chair and the vice chair of the task
force shall be designated by the governor and shall be members of the
task force. Members in general shall be selected for their expertise in
higher education. Eight members of the task force shall constitute a
quorum for the purposes of organizing the task force and conducting the
meetings thereof. Members of the task force shall serve without salary
or other compensation. The task force shall meet not less than once a
month at the existing campus at Southampton until a final report and
recommendations are submitted in accordance with subdivision (d) of this
section.
(b) Such task force shall serve to develop recommendations for the
future use of the Southampton campus, including but not limited to the
establishment of a new college of the state university at Southampton.
All state agencies shall provide their expertise and, where possible,
their resources to assist the task force in fulfilling its duties and
responsibilities.
(c) Within six months after the appointment of the members of the task
force, the task force shall hold a public hearing. Thereafter, the task
force shall consider and incorporate the comments made at such hearing
into preliminary recommendations. Such preliminary recommendations shall
be published and made available to the public, and submitted to the
governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the
assembly within nine months of the effective date of this act. Follow-
ing the publishing and submission of such preliminary recommendations,
the task force shall provide at least 30 days but not more than 45 days
for public comment on the recommendations.
(d) The task force shall develop and submit a final report of recom-
mendations to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and
the speaker of the assembly on or before December 1, 2013.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.