Legislative Update

Session Reconvenes
The Governor has called for a special “economic” session to be held on Tuesday, August 19th. While the formal agenda has not been made public, here is a summary of the Governor’s plan and Assembly Response.

Last Friday, the Senate returned to Albany to advance the Governor’s property tax cap proposal. This was the Governor’s Response.

2008 Chapters and Vetoes
As the Governor continues to review legislation passed by both the Assembly and Senate, several issues of importance to SUNY have been acted upon. A full summary can be found on our web site. Some of the more significant issues to date are the following:
Chapter 154 - Prohibits smoking in dormitories, residence halls, and other group residential facilities.
Chapter 204 - Relates to the waiver of certain clinical laboratory tests from clinical laboratory permit requirements and to the licensure of clinical laboratory practitioners.
Chapter 237 - Authorizes the issuance of a one-time or annual permit to an institution of higher education to have alcoholic beverages delivered for a class or course.
Chapter 319 - Expands the board of trustees of the fashion institute of technology from 10 to 16 trustees over three years.
Chapter 433 - Enacts the "textbook access act" to ensure that college students in New York State have better access to affordable textbooks.
Veto 30 – Would have authorized the lease of lands located at the state university of New York at Purchase for a senior learning community with the residents of the senior learning community interacting with the College by enrolling in courses offered by Purchase College, becoming members of the Neuberger Museum of Art and members of The Performing Arts Center of the College.

New Arrivals
- The legislative higher education staff have been experiencing a baby boom recently.
- Matt Howard, Deputy Director at Assembly Majority Ways and Means is the new father of a baby boy - Calvin
- Lonnie Threatte, Associate Deputy at Assembly Majority Ways and Means is the new father of a baby boy - Langston
- Bridget Hoffman, Budget Analyst at Assembly Minority Ways and Means is the new mother of twin boys – Patrick and Connor

Recent Departures
As Governor Paterson’s administration continues to define itself, two key staff members of interest to SUNY have recently departed. Manny Rivera, Deputy Secretary for Education and John Reid, Executive Director for the Commission on Higher Education have moved on. Continuing to address education issues in the Executive Chamber are Mark Leinung, Dan Doktori and Duffy Palmer.

Jim Campbell
Director of Legislative Relations
Office of University Relations
State University of New York
518-443-5148