SUNY University Center Innovation and Economic Growth Act Introduced by Sen. Stavisky S.5836

SUNY University Center Innovation and Economic Growth Act
Introduced by Sen. Stavisky S.5836

Bill Text: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S05836&sh=t
Bill Summary: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S05836

It looks to have biparisan support by seeing who has co-sponsored the bill.

The Sponsors Memo which explains the bill in "normal english" is not listed on the Assembly Site, but is listed on the Legislative Retrieval System (LRS) site..though I can't give a direct link to the bill since that site is a search engine type site. So below is the text of the Sponsor's Memo of this bill.

I have heard that President Philip has said this bill is supported by SUNY Central and that UB2020 wasn't.

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BILL NUMBER: S5836

SPONSOR: STAVISKY

TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, the public authorities law and the general municipal law, in relation to authorizing tuition increases for four University Centers of the State University of New York at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center (Part A); to amend the education law, in relation to the use of four University Centers of the State University of New York at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center (Part B ) to amend the education law, the state finance law and the tax law, in relation to the ability of the state university trustees to purchase items and enter into contracts and agreements (Part C); to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation to the distribution of money received from various sources related to the four University Centers of the State University of New York at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center (Part D); and to amend the education law, in relation to providing that certain leases of the four University Centers of the State University of New York at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center need not be submitted to the attorney general for his or her approval (Part E)

PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
To allow the four University Centers of the State University of New York at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook, SUNY Upstate Medical University and SUNY Downstate Medical Center greater flexibility and autonomy in regard to leasing, contracting, tuition increases and overall daily operations at the Universities.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This act shall be known as the "SUNY University Center Innovation and Economic Growth Act."

The legislation amends various sections of the Education Law, the Public Authorities Law, the General Municipal Law, the State Finance Law, and the Tax law.

This legislation shall sunset five years from enactment.

JUSTIFICATION:
The Final Report of Findings and Recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education recommended in 2008, that New York must unshackle SUNY, end micromanagement, and free the system to focus on achieving excellence in a global knowledge economy. This legislation, "The SUNY University Center Innovation and Economic Growth Act," codifies many of the recommendations of the Commission on Higher Education and seeks to implement meaningful regulatory reform.

Specifically, this legislation will allow the four University Centers of the State University of New York at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center the ability to implement a more rational tuition policy with regular increases and an acknowledgment that it costs more to educate students at research universities; the ability to retain the revenue generated by tuition; spending and contracting flexibility to better serve students, faculty/researchers and staff in a timely manner; access to capital to enable campuses to build the infrastructure necessary to support the State's economic development mission; and the ability to lease or purchase land and facilities.

The SUNY University Center Innovation and Economic Growth Act will strengthen the academic and economic capabilities of the four University Centers - the only institutions within the 64-campus SUNY system which simultaneously provide undergraduate teaching, research, and advanced graduate and professional studies; as well as the medical schools at Upstate (Syracuse) and Downstate (Brooklyn), the only stand-alone medical colleges in the SUNY system.

The four University Centers of SUNY and the medical schools, with a cumulative economic impact of more than $10 billion, are inextricably linked with the fiscal and economic well-being of New York State. The medical schools and University Centers clearly return substantially more than they receive in investment from the State. The SUNY University Center Innovation and Economic Growth Act will transform the State University Centers and medical colleges into model twenty-first century
public universities - enabling New York State's most important public higher education institution to build the next generation industries that will provide stable, knowledge-based economic catalysts.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately

Courtesy: MsGDG