Senate Bill S4248

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4248
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 7, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the education law, in relation to a pilot program to
   increase enrollment, attendance, and success in college  for  students
   experiencing homelessness

   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  689-b
 to read as follows:
   § 689-B. PILOT PROGRAM TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND SUCCESS
 IN  COLLEGE  FOR  STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.   1. THE NEW YORK
 STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, WHEN MONIES THEREFORE  HAVE
 BEEN  APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE OR ARE OTHERWISE AVAILABLE, HEREBY
 IS AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM TO INCREASE  THE  ENROLLMENT,
 ATTENDANCE,  AND  SUCCESS  IN COLLEGE OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESS-
 NESS. CAMPUSES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF  NEW  YORK  AND  OF  THE  CITY
 UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR GRANTS THROUGH THE
 PILOT  PROGRAM AND SHALL ACCOMMODATE UP TO FIVE HUNDRED STUDENTS. APPLI-
 CATIONS AND PROPOSED ACTIVITIES MUST BE COORDINATED  WITH  A  UNIVERSITY
 LIAISON  OFFICER  AND  THE  CAMPUS  CONTACT  PERSON  DESIGNATED FOR THAT
 PURPOSE. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL  EVALUATE  APPLICATIONS  AND  AWARD  FUNDS
 BASED  ON QUALITY, NEED, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIRED AND ENCOURAGED
 ELEMENTS OUTLINED IN THIS SECTION.
   2. (A) APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
   (I) STAFFING WITH SUFFICIENT CAPACITY AND AUTHORITY TO  IMPLEMENT  ALL
 THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES;
   (II)  COORDINATION WITH THE LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE NEW YORK CITY
 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,  AND
 PUBLIC  AND  PRIVATE AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE HOUSING, SHELTER, OR SERVICES
 FOR HOMELESS OR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08393-02-3
 S. 4248                             2
              

 
   (III) HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES TO ASSIST STUDENTS TO  FIND  FUNDING
 FOR  HOUSING  RESOURCES  OFFERED  BY  THE  COLLEGE  AND EXTERNAL HOUSING
 RESOURCES, INCLUDING WORKING WITH EXISTING HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS
 OR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES;
   (IV)  OUTREACH TO AND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE PARENTS IN PARTIC-
 ULAR, INCLUDING HOUSING SERVICES;
   (V) COLLABORATION WITH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS, OR
 STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT  STUDENTS  EXPERIENCING
 HOMELESSNESS;
   (VI)  PLANS  TO  IMPLEMENT  A QUESTIONNAIRE FOR ALL ENROLLING STUDENTS
 THAT WILL HELP DETERMINE WHETHER  ENROLLING  STUDENTS  ARE  EXPERIENCING
 HOMELESSNESS;
   (VII)  DESIGNATED  FUNDING  FOR  HOUSING,  SUCH AS TEMPORARY DORMITORY
 ROOMS WHILE HOUSING NAVIGATION  SERVICES  TAKE  PLACE,  HOUSING  IN  THE
 COMMUNITY,  HOST HOMES, HOUSING DURING ACADEMIC BREAKS, AND FEES ASSOCI-
 ATED WITH HOUSING, INCLUDING APPLICATION FEES AND MOVE-IN  STIPENDS  FOR
 FURNITURE AND SUPPLIES; AND
   (VIII)  FINANCIAL  LITERACY,  SOFT  SKILLS,  AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING,
 PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT OR IN COLLABORATION WITH A COMMUNITY AGENCY.
   (B) APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO  INCLUDE  THE  FOLLOWING
 ELEMENTS:
   (I)  PLANS  TO  INCORPORATE AND APPROPRIATELY SUPERVISE GRADUATE-LEVEL
 INTERNS, PARTICULARLY SOCIAL  WORK  INTERNS,  TO  UNDERTAKE  APPROPRIATE
 ACTIVITIES;
   (II)  PLANS TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH LANDLORDS AND INCENTIVES FOR
 THEM TO HOUSE COLLEGE STUDENTS, INCLUDING IN COLLABORATION WITH EXISTING
 HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS OR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES; AND
   (III) VOLUNTARY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS  ON  COLLEGE  APPLICATION
 FORMS.
   (C)  APPLICANTS  MUST  SUBMIT  AN  ANNUAL REPORT OF DATA REGARDING THE
 ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND  SERVICES  PROVIDED  TO  STUDENTS  IN  THE  PILOT
 PROGRAM  THAT  ARE  NECESSARY TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD,
 HOUSING, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND RELATED SERVICES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and  shall  apply  to  the
 academic  year  next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a
 law.