Bill Text: NY A07112 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the general equivalency degree assistance pilot program.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-08 - reference changed to higher education [A07112 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-A07112-Introduced.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
           S. 4599                                                  A. 7112
                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions
                             S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
                                    April 13, 2011
                                      ___________
       IN  SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. ZELDIN -- read twice and ordered print-
         ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
       IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. GRAF -- read once and referred  to
         the Committee on Education
       AN  ACT  to  amend  the  education  law, in relation to establishing the
         general equivalency degree assistance pilot  program;  and  making  an
         appropriation   therefor;   and  providing  for  the  repeal  of  such
         provisions upon expiration thereof
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  The education law is amended by adding a new section 6311
    2  to read as follows:
    3    S 6311.  GENERAL  EQUIVALENCY  DEGREE  ASSISTANCE  PILOT  PROGRAM.  1.
    4  AUTHORIZATION. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY GENERAL OR SPECIAL LAW, RULE OR REGU-
    5  LATION TO THE CONTRARY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNI-
    6  TY  COLLEGE IS AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM FOR ONLINE EDUCA-
    7  TION FOR THE PURPOSE  OF  ASSISTING  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  OBTAINING  THEIR
    8  GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DEGREE.
    9    2. TUITION. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY CHARGE TUITION FOR SUCH PROGRAM;
   10  PROVIDED  THAT  SUCH FEES SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS PER
   11  SEMESTER PER INDIVIDUAL ENROLLED IN SUCH PROGRAM.
   12    3. CURRICULUM. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL  DEVELOP  AND  IMPLEMENT  A
   13  CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF EDUCATION NECESSARY TO PASS
   14  THE  GENERAL  EQUIVALENCY  EXAM; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH CURRICULUM
   15  SHALL, AT A MINIMUM, INCLUDE A COURSE OF STUDY IN  MATHEMATICS,  ENGLISH
   16  READING  AND  COMPREHENSION,  UNITED  STATES  AND  WORLD HISTORY AND THE
   17  GENERAL SCIENCES.
   18    4. WEBSITE. (A)  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  SHALL  MAINTAIN  A  WEBSITE
   19  DISPLAYING  THE  CURRICULUM,  INSTRUCTIONS  ON THE RECOMMENDED COURSE OF
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD10002-01-1
       S. 4599                             2                            A. 7112
    1  STUDY, QUIZZES AND PRACTICE TESTS ON THE SUBJECT MATERIAL, AND LINKS  TO
    2  FREE TUTORIAL PROGRAMS ADJUDGED INFORMATIVE AND VALID BY THE BOARD.
    3    (B)  EACH  COURSE OF STUDY SHALL BE MAINTAINED UNDER ITS OWN DEDICATED
    4  WEBPAGE OR SECTION OF SUCH WEBSITE.
    5    (C) SUCH WEBSITE SHALL PROMINENTLY DISPLAY THE DATES, TIMES AND PLACES
    6  WHERE THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM IS AVAILABLE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON  HOW
    7  A PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE MAY APPLY.
    8    (D)  SUCH  WEBSITE  SHALL  BE  INTERACTIVE  IN FORMAT WITH PROSPECTIVE
    9  CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL EQUIVALENCY EXAM ABLE TO SUBMIT PRACTICE EXAMS
   10  AND QUIZZES FOR GRADING, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO SEEK TUTORIAL ASSIST-
   11  ANCE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER THROUGH ELECTRONIC MAIL.
   12    5. TEACHING ASSISTANTS. STUDENTS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY  COMMUNITY  COLLEGE
   13  THAT  MAINTAIN  A  GRADE  POINT  AVERAGE  ABOVE 3.5 THROUGH THE SEMESTER
   14  PRECEDING THEIR APPLICATION AS A TEACHING ASSISTANT SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO
   15  PROVIDE TUTORIAL SERVICES TO PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES. THE COMPENSATION OF
   16  SUCH STUDENTS SHALL BE SET BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
   17    S 2. During the fourth year next succeeding the effective date of this
   18  act, the board of trustees of Suffolk  county  community  college  shall
   19  undertake  or cause to be undertaken a study on the effectiveness of the
   20  general equivalency degree assistance pilot program and its  effects  on
   21  ameliorating the number of high school dropouts without a general equiv-
   22  alency  degree  and  shall  prepare recommendations for the governor and
   23  legislature on whether a general  equivalency  degree  assistance  pilot
   24  program  should  be  established statewide, and, if so, make recommenda-
   25  tions as to provisions including state incentives for the program.
   26    S 3. The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000),  or  so  much
   27  thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any monies in
   28  the  state  treasury  in  the  general  fund  to the credit of the state
   29  purposes fund, not otherwise appropriated, and made  immediately  avail-
   30  able,  for  the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such
   31  monies shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the  comptroller  on
   32  vouchers  certified  or approved by the comptroller of Suffolk county in
   33  the manner prescribed by law.
   34    S 4. This act shall  take  effect  on  the  first  of  September  next
   35  succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall expire
   36  5  years after such effective date when upon such date the provisions of
   37  this act shall be deemed repealed.