Legislative Updates

2011 Legislative Summary – Summary of legislation approved by both the Senate and Assembly during the 2011 session impacting SUNY and higher education.  This summary will be updated as final action is taken by the Governor.   
 
Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Higher Education (OHE) – John D’Agati was recently appointed by NYS Board of Regents to the position of Deputy Committee for the Office of Higher Education.  John was the former director of the NYS Senate committee on higher education under the Chairmanship of Senator Ken LaValle and was more recently the Director of Government Relations at Empire State College.  John’s appointment is effective July 18, 2011.

NY SUNY 2020 Voting Record – While the final tally in the Senate and Assembly for NY SUNY 2020 was overwhelming – Assembly 113 Yes, 21 No; Senate 51 Yes, 11 No – the following legislators were recorded as voting NO:  Assembly - Barron – (D) Kings, Cahill – (D) Ulster, Colton – (D) Kings, Crespo – (D) Bronx, Curran – (R) Nassau,  Friend – (R) Chemung, Gibson – (D) Bronx, Gottfried – (D) New York, Hanna – (R) Monroe, Jeffries – (D) Kings, Jordan – (R) Washington, Lifton – (D) Tompkins, Lopez, P – (R) Schoharie, McLaughlin – (R) Columbia, Meng – (D) Queens, Miller, D - (R) Onondaga, Palmesano – (R) Corning, , Raia – (R) Suffolk, Spano – (D) Westchester, Tenney – (R) Oneida, Thiele – (I) Suffolk.  Senate - Adams – (D) Kings,  Avella – (D) Queens, Diaz – (D) Bronx, Espaillat – (D) Bronx, Huntley – (D) Queens,  Parker – (D) Kings, Peralta – (D) Queens, Perkins – (D) New York, Rivera – (D) Bronx, Serrano – (D) Bronx, Smith – (D) Queens.

NY SUNY 2020 Senate Debate – The following links provide selected remarks during the Senate debate on NY SUNY 2020:
- Sen. LaValle & Others
- Sen. Farley 
- Sen. Grisanti 

Special Elections – Governor Cuomo recently  announced the special elections for six vacant Assembly seats and the 9th Congressional District for September 13th in order to coincide with New York’s statewide Primary Day.
23rd AD – Audrey Pheffer (resigned – appointed Queens County Clerk)
27th AD – Nettie Mayersohn (resigned/retired)
54th AD – Darryl Towns (resigned – appointed by Governor Cuomo as Commissioner of NYS Homes and Community Renewal)
73rd AD – Jonathan Bing (resigned – appointed by Governor Cuomo as Special Deputy Superintendent of the New York Liquidation Bureau)
116th AD – Roann Destito (resigned – appointed by Governor Cuomo as Commissioner of NYS Office of General Services)
144th AD – Sam Hoyt (resigned – appointed by Governor Cuomo as Senior Vice President for Regional Economic Development at Empire State Development Corp.)
9th CD – Anthony Weiner (resigned)

Jim Campbell
Director of Legislative Relations
Office of Government Relations
State University of New York