S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7782
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 27, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the board of trustees'
meetings
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 353 of the educa-
tion law, as amended by chapter 98 of the laws of 2010, is amended to
read as follows:
a. The board may provide for regular meetings, and the chairman, or
the vice-chairman, or any eight members by petition, may at any time
call a special meeting of the board of trustees and fix the time and
place therefor; and at least seven days notice of every meeting shall be
mailed to the usual address of each trustee, unless such notice be
waived by a majority of the board. Resolutions for the consideration of
the board of trustees must be mailed to the usual address of each trus-
tee no less than seven days prior to a meeting, unless the chair shall
make available in writing on the day of the meeting the facts which
necessitate an immediate vote. Eight trustees attending shall be a
quorum for the transaction of business and, unless a greater number is
required by the by-laws, the act of a majority of the members present at
any meeting shall be the act of the board. A BOARD MEMBER SHALL BE
CONSIDERED PRESENT AT ANY MEETING, AND THUS ALLOWED TO CAST A VOTE, IF
THEY ARE NOT PHYSICALLY AT THE MEETING BUT ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY TELECON-
FERENCING OR VIDEOCONFERENCING INTO THE MEETING. The board shall hold at
least two public hearings each year. One public hearing shall be held
during the spring semester and one public hearing shall be held in the
fall semester. The purpose of such hearings shall be to receive testimo-
ny and statements from concerned individuals about university issues.
The board shall fix the time, place, duration and format of each hear-
ing. At least three members of the board shall attend each hearing. At
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09690-02-5
A. 7782 2
least thirty days notice of the hearing shall be given by the chairman
of the board to all members of the board, to all presidents of state
operated campuses, to the chair of faculty-senate bodies of state oper-
ated campuses, to all student government presidents of state operated
campuses, to the certified or recognized employee organizations repres-
enting employees of the state university and to the media. Such notice
shall contain the time and place of the public hearing.
S 2. Section 6306 of the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 1-b to read as follows:
1-B. ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD WHO ATTENDS A MEETING THROUGH MEANS OF
TELECONFERENCING OR VIDEOCONFERENCING SHALL BE DEEMED PRESENT FOR BOTH
PURPOSES OF CONSTITUTING A QUORUM AND HAVING SUCH MEMBER'S VOTE COUNTED
TOWARD ANY ACTION OF THE BOARD.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.