State Relations Update - June 19, 2009

Assembly Update – The Assembly has been churning along with every anticipation of completing their session agenda next week.  We do not anticipate any additional higher education issues to be forthcoming at this time.

Senate Update – The Senate remains divided 31-31 and unable to convene with the necessary quorum of 32 Senators.  While there had been some encouraging discussions on Thursday regarding a power-sharing agreement, no consensus was reached.  When the Senate does convene, we remain optimistic that they will take up the following bills of interest to SUNY which have already been approved by the Assembly:

 SUNY Optometry Clinic Services
 A.1138 (Gottfried) – Passed Assembly; S.4529 (Krueger) – Health Committee
 Would permit patients who are medical assistance recipients and who are required to participate in managed care programs, to obtain optometric services at the  clinics of the SUNY College of Optometry.

 TAP Income Determination
 A.2713 (Glick) – Passed Assembly; S.2295 (Stavisky) – Higher Education
 Would provide greater TAP awards to students who are considered independent due to relinquished parental control.

 Research Libraries
 A.7229 (Schimminger) – Passed Assembly; S.5419 (Stachowski) - Finance
 Establishes the Academic Research Information Access Act (ARIA) to foster innovations and economic growth by broadening the availability of high end  information resources through collaborative contracts and licenses for the provision of electronic resources which include academic, professional and industry journals, reference handbooks and manuals, research tracking tools, indexes and abstracts.

Chancellor Zimpher's 2009 Campus Tour – Chancellor Zimpher continues with her campus visits and maintains a full work schedule.  This week she visited New Paltz, Purchase. FIT and Erie Community College.  On Wednesday, she appeared before the Journal News editorial board during her visit to SUNY Purchase.  View the Interview

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer – Several Legislative staff have approached our office requesting opportunities to visit campuses during the summer and fall.  As you all are aware, these visits permit your campus to promote unique aspects of the campus community as well as promoting the overall SUNY agenda.  Continued discussions on this topic will be forthcoming.

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