NY State Senate Bill 2017-S1441

Senate Bill S1441

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Creates a service learning program for students serving as active volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance workers

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 20, 2018	committed to rules
Jan 29, 2018	advanced to third reading
Jan 23, 2018	2nd report cal.
Jan 22, 2018	1st report cal.233
Jan 03, 2018	referred to higher education
Jun 21, 2017	committed to rules
May 01, 2017	advanced to third reading
Apr 26, 2017	2nd report cal.
Apr 25, 2017	1st report cal.632
Jan 09, 2017	referred to higher education

Votes

- Jan 22, 2018 - Higher Education Committee Vote
  S1441
  
  18
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Higher Education Committee Vote: Jan 22, 2018
      
      aye (18)
      
      Alcantara
      
      Bailey
      
      Breslin
      
      Croci
      
      Funke
      
      Gallivan
      
      Griffo
      
      Helming
      
      LaValle
      
      Ortt
      
      Parker
      
      Peralta
      
      Ritchie
      
      Rivera
      
      Robach
      
      Serino
      
      Seward
      
      Stavisky
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Krueger
  Apr 25, 2017 - Higher Education Committee Vote
  S1441
  
  17
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  2
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Higher Education Committee Vote: Apr 25, 2017
      
      aye (17)
      
      Alcantara
      
      Breslin
      
      Croci
      
      Funke
      
      Gallivan
      
      Griffo
      
      Helming
      
      LaValle
      
      Ortt
      
      Parker
      
      Peralta
      
      Ritchie
      
      Rivera
      
      Robach
      
      Serino
      
      Seward
      
      Stavisky
      
      excused (2)
      
      Bailey
      
      Krueger

co-Sponsors

2017-S1441 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5533
Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §355, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S6678, A8989
2015-2016: S3126, A2896
2019-2020: S1569, A4523
2021-2022: S6369
2023-2024: S4461
2025-2026: S217

2017-S1441 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Creates a service learning program for students serving as active volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance workers, and mandates certain features of such program.

2017-S1441 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S1441

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
certain service learning, internship, or independent study programs

 PURPOSE :

To allow community colleges and State University of New York (SUNY)
schools to implement programs that would provide academic credit for
successful completion of a service learning, internship, or
independent study program in relation to the volunteer fire service,
as prescribed by regulations established by the state university
trustees.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :


Section 1 of the bill amends section 355 of the education law to
direct the state university trustees to adopt regulations to establish
a service learning, internship, or independent study program for
students that serve as active volunteer firefighters or ambulance
workers.


Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Colleges and universities often offer internships and independent
study programs so students can earn academic credit while obtaining
real-life work experience. Service learning programs are an emerging
and growing teaching method on college campuses and these programs are
also effective in combining academic learning and real-life
experiences.

One of the most critical community services provided by New York
residents is volunteer fire protection and emergency services. Many
younger individuals may be interested in volunteering for their local
fire department or ambulance company, but are discouraged from doing
so due to the time demands of being a college student. This bill
provides a common-sense approach to combining community service and
academic learning which will lead to greater volunteerism and more
well-rounded and experienced college students.

Under this legislation, the state university trustees will establish
regulations that create guidelines for a service learning, internship
or independent study program for active volunteer firefighters and
ambulance workers. Such programs must include a service and an
academic requirement. Through involvement in the volunteer fire
service, a student not only provides vital community services, but can
also learn a number of valuable principles in various academic areas.
Some topics students will learn about in the volunteer fire service
include not-for-profit corporation governance, municipal government,
licensing and permitting, charitable giving, record-keeping,
compliance with safety and other laws, insurance, taxes, budgeting,
and management.

This bill provides valuable skills and learning opportunities for
students while encouraging more volunteerism to serve our communities.
The skills and knowledge gained through the volunteer fire service are
worthy of academic credit through properly developed and structured
service learning, internship and independent study programs. This
legislation allows SUNY schools and community colleges to recognize
this by offering students the opportunity to participate in such
programs, as prescribed by the state university trustees.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

S.3126/A.2896 of 2015-2016; Passed Senate.
S.6678/A.8989 of 2012-2013; Passed Senate.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law; provided however that, effective immediately, the state
university trustees are authorized and directed to add, amend and/or
repeal any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this
act on its effective date.

2017-S1441 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1441
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 9, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  FUNKE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to certain service learn-
   ing, internship, or independent study programs
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 20 to read as follows:
   20. THE STATE UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO ESTABLISH
 A  SERVICE  LEARNING,  INTERNSHIP,  OR  INDEPENDENT  STUDY  PROGRAM  FOR
 STUDENTS THAT SERVE  AS  ACTIVE  VOLUNTEER  FIREFIGHTERS  AND/OR  ACTIVE
 VOLUNTEER  AMBULANCE WORKERS. EACH STATE-OPERATED INSTITUTION AND COMMU-
 NITY COLLEGE MAY, AS DETERMINED BY ITS PRESIDENT, OFFER SUCH  A  SERVICE
 LEARNING,  INTERNSHIP, OR INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAM TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS PRESCRIBED BY  THE  STATE  UNIVERSITY
 TRUSTEES.  SUCH  PROGRAM SHALL CONSIST OF (A) A COMMUNITY SERVICE COMPO-
 NENT THAT MAY BE COMPLETED THROUGH NO LESS THAN TWENTY HOURS OF  VERIFI-
 ABLE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTING ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE OR EMERGENCY
 RESPONSE  ACTIVITIES,  OR  OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO VOLUNTEER FIRE OR
 AMBULANCE SERVICE AS DETERMINED BY THE STATE  UNIVERSITY  TRUSTEES,  AND
 (B) AN ACADEMIC COMPONENT RELATED TO SUCH VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY THAT MAY BE
 COMPLETED  THROUGH A WRITTEN REPORT OR JOURNAL, OR OTHER WRITTEN ASSIGN-
 MENT AS DETERMINED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES. SUCH PROGRAM  SHALL
 BE  OPEN  TO  ANY  STUDENT  ENROLLED  IN  AN  ASSOCIATE OR BACCALAUREATE
 DEGREE-PRODUCING PROGRAM ON A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME BASIS  THAT  IS  AN
 ACTIVE  VOLUNTEER  FIREFIGHTER  AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION
 TWO HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW OR AN ACTIVE  VOLUNTEER
 AMBULANCE  WORKER  AS  DEFINED  IN  SUBDIVISION  FOURTEEN OF SECTION TWO
 HUNDRED NINETEEN-K OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL  LAW.    NO  MORE  THAN  SIX
 ACADEMIC CREDITS SHALL BE AWARDED TO A STUDENT FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
 OF  SUCH  SERVICE  LEARNING, INTERNSHIP OR INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAM. IN
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD03506-01-7

 S. 1441                             2
 
 DEVELOPING THE SERVICE LEARNING, INTERNSHIP OR INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAM
 DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, THE STATE UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES MAY, IN ITS
 DISCRETION, CONSULT WITH THE  OFFICE  OF  FIRE  PREVENTION  AND  CONTROL
 AND/OR  ANY  STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF THE
 VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE OR THE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SERVICE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have  become  a  law;  provided however that, effective immediately, the
 state university trustees are authorized  and  directed  to  add,  amend
 and/or repeal any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
 this act on its effective date.

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Senate Bill S1441

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Sponsored By

Rich Funke