Senate Bill S1788

                                BILL NUMBER:S1788

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
certain tuition waivers for police officer students of the state
university of New York and the city university of New York; and
providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof

PURPOSE:  This bill requires tuition waivers for up to two courses per
semester/quarter for police officer students in baccalaureate or
higher degree programs at SUNY and CUNY.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:  Paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of
the education law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 1-a to read
as follows:

(1-a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general, special or
local law, rule or regulation, such regulations shall permit police
officers, as that. term is defined in section two hundred nine-q of
the general municipal law, enrolled in programs leading to
baccalaureate or higher degrees at state-operated institutions of the
state university to attend up to two courses per semester or quarter
without tuition, provided that such tuition-waived attendance does not
deny course attendance at a state-operated institution by an
individual who is otherwise qualified under the regulations
promulgated pursuant to this section.

              

Subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law is amended by
adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general, special or
local law, rule or regulations, the board of trustees shall promulgate
regulations to permit police officers, as that term is defined in
section two-hundred nine-q of the general municipal law, enrolled in
programs leading to a baccalaureate or higher degrees at a senior
college of the city university to attend up to two courses per
semester or quarter without tuition, provided that such tuition-waived
attendance does not deny course attendance at a senior college of the
city university by an individual who is otherwise qualified under this
section.

JUSTIFICATION:  This measure, based on a tuition waiver program
sponsored by John Jay College of Criminal Justice during the late
1970s through the 1980s, provides a strong incentive for police
officers to pursue higher education by authorizing tuition waivers for
up to two courses per semester/quarter for police officer students in
baccalaureate or higher degree programs at SUNY and CUNY.

The rationale for the highly successful John Jay tuition waiver
program, also applicable-to this measure, was to provide an incentive
for public safety personnel to pursue education early in their careers
so that the taxpaying citizens would enjoy the greatest long-term
benefit from an educated public safety service. There was also the
recognition that, early in their careers, public safety officers are
not well paid, and are often burdened with significant family-related
financial responsibilities. When the waiver program was introduced,
and police officers were provided at least on course free of charge,


the number of officers enrolled at John Jay increased dramatically.
Moreover, many officers enrolled in one or more additional courses at
their own expense. A number of police officers graduating from John
Jay when the tuition waiver program was available indicated that the
program was the incentive that encouraged them to start or return to
college.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  S.2736 of 2001.  S.7728/A.10735 Lentol of 2008;
Passed Senate 62-0

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:  None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect immediately.