Outreach & Engagement

Legislative Update

2006

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• April 21, 2006
• March 28, 2006
• March 14, 2006
• March 6, 2006
• January 4, 2006

March 28, 2006

Budget Update - The SFY 2006-2007 Sub-Committee on Higher Education Report to the General Conference Committee* is the Report of the Higher Education Conference Committee.  Similar to what was reported by Chancellor Ryan on March 23rd, the funding portion for the State University has not changed.  The Report notes the various categories of aid added or restored relative to the Executive Budget.  Please note the fact that this reflects only an agreement between the Senate and Assembly, thus a two-way agreement, with the Governor not a party as of yet to this spending level which exceeds the Executive Budget Proposal by approximately $1.5 billion.  Talks between the Legislature and Governor will continue as the week unfolds and we need all the support we can to make sure the funding identified by the Legislature remains intact during the final negotiations and through the gubernatorial review for approval or veto.

Chancellor Ryan continues to promote our needs with the Legislative Leaders as well as the Governor and his top staff.  He will provide additional information as the negotiations continue and once the Legislature acts on these items later this week.

As you read the summary, you will note that the dollar figures do not match those in our budget request.  This is due to valuing the dollars with respect to the overlapping state and academic fiscal years.  The Report includes the following highlights:

Additional Funding:

• Tuition and Mandatory Base Costs (fully funds the $117M SUNY Request)
• Tuition Offset (part of mandatory costs) - $59.73M (fully funds SUNY's request for $85.3M)
• Mandatory / Base Costs (including EON restorationMandatory / Base Costs (including EON restoration) - $22.13M (fully funds SUNY'srequest for $31.70M)
• Enrollment Growth and Fulltime Faculty - $17.50M (fully funds SUNY's request for $25.5M)
• High Needs Programs at State Ops and Community Colleges- $3.8M (funds 1/2 of SUNY's request for $7.6M)
• Community College Base Aid - $9.262M (funds an additional $75 above the governor's $100 for a $175 per AAFTE increase)
• Community College Contract Course Aid- $1M (adds $1M to the governor's $1M for a total of $2M)
• TAP Restoration - (Full restoration to original program with an agreement on funding accelerated study after 7/1/2006)
• Educational Opportunity Programs - $1.7M (funds a 10% increase)
• UAlbany East Campus BioMed Research - $5M (funds research and development at the UA East Campus)
• Capital Construction Projects - $700M (projects still to be identified)

Article VII Proposals:

• Accepts the Empire Innovation Program as proposed (SUNY's $6M Excelsior Program request)
• Requires a Board of Trustee review/justification of tuition increase at SUNY and CUNY community colleges
• Creates a Part-Time TAP Program for SUNY, CUNY and independent colleges
• Provides tuition benefits to National Guard members
• Implements a Math and Science Incentive Program
• Provides illness or active military duty as circumstances for TAP adjustments
• Rejects proposal to privatize SUNY Hospitals
• Rejects adding a distinguished faculty to the SUNY and CUNY Board of Trustees
• Rejects a tuition policy at SUNY and CUNY
• Rejects the study of the sale of surplus land at SUNY and CUNY
• Rejects Partnership to Accelerated Completion Time (PACT)

As always, contact Michael Trunzo or Jim Campbell if you have any questions or comments.

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