This bill allows New York residents aged 65 and older to take up to nine credit hours per semester at state and city universities without paying tuition. It changes current policy, which only permitted free course auditing (without credit) for seniors aged 60+, by enabling eligible individuals to earn academic credit. The policy applies to credit-bearing courses, not just audit-only options, and requires universities to admit seniors on a space-available basis. It does not affect existing tuition rates for other students.
Senate Bill S 7520 prohibits transportation authorities from imposing time limits or curfews on fares provided to students. This means that students participating in a student fare program would be able to use their fares at any time, without restrictions based on the hour of the day. The bill amends the public authorities law to implement this change, ensuring student fares remain valid regardless of the time.
Prohibits discrimination against and harassment or bullying of students by other students on school property or at a school function; requires schools to investigate reports of bullying; requires schools to adopt a written, plain-language anti-bullying and harassment policy; requires school employees to report incidents of bullying or harassment.
Requires the state education department to develop a model mental health training program to serve as the mental health component of required school safety trainings as part of comprehensive district-wide safety plans developed by each district-wide school safety team.
Exempts computer hardware and software equipment and school supplies from sales tax during the seven day period commencing on the Tuesday immediately preceding the first Monday in September, known as Labor Day, and ending on Labor Day.
Relates to establishing a program for financial transitional living services for foster children; establishes independent development savings accounts for foster children over the age of 16; requires foster children to attend financial literacy and independent living classes.
Grants a special apportionment to school districts having a population of between 195,000 and 219,000, for additional expenses incurred in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years associated with changes in public pension liabilities.
Establishes an emergency aid grant matching program to provide matching funds to campuses of the state university of New York and the city university of New York for the provision of emergency aid grants to eligible students.
Relates to the SUNY Maritime admissions program increasing the number of positions reserved for nomination by the governor and members of the legislature and scholarship under the SUNY Maritime admissions program.
Requires the higher education services corporation to make a determination of financial eligibility of a student for financial aid, awards and loans within 60 days from the day of the receipt of the financial aid application; where the higher education services corporation fails to make a timely determination the applicant shall be deemed eligible for such aid for the semester for which the application was made; allows for a 30-day extension if notice is given to the educational institution within the initial 60-day period.
