BILL NUMBER: S722
SPONSOR: RHOADS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting funding of
any state university of New York, city university of New York or commu-
nity college if such institutions permit certain organizations on campus
 
PURPOSE:
To amend the education law, in relation to prohibiting funding of any
state university of New York or community college if such institutions
permit certain organizations on campus.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding new
subdivision 22 and 23 The state university trustees shall ensure that no
financial aid shall be granted to any institution of any university of
New York which directly or indirectly, permits organizations designated
as terrorist organizations pursuant to 8 U.S.0 § 1189.
Section 2 Paragraph 1 of subdivision A of 6221 of the education law, as
amended by chapter 554 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as
follows
Section 3 Subdivision 1 of section 6304 of the education law is amended
by adding two new paragraphs a-1 and a-2 to read as follows
Section 4 This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The sudden, brutal and unconscionable Hamas attack against Israeli
civilians on October 7, 2023, has led to a stunning increase in hate.
US-based advocacy groups are reporting a sustained spike in hate inci-
dents against Jewish and Muslim individuals since the attack and the
resulting outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas.
In fact, the Anti-Defamation League had already recorded over 2,000
antisemitic incidents in the United States through July of 2023. The ADL
found that in the eight weeks immediately following the Hamas attack on
October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents in the United States increased by
337%, according to data shared with CNN. Between October 7 and December
7, the Anti-Defamation League reported 2031 antisemitic incidents, over
two-thirds of which were directly linked to the fighting in Israel and
Gaza. By comparison, there were 465 incidents over the same period in
2022. Shockingly over 400 of these incidents occurred on college and
university campuses.
SUNY and CUNY campuses should be institutions of higher learning where
all students have the opportunity to learn in an environment free from
dangerous speech and/or actions in support of terrorism or groups that
sponsor or commit acts of terrorism as recognized by the Federal govern-
ment. This amendment to the state Education Law seeks to prevent our
institutions from becoming ideological war zones where hate, the incite-
ment of violence and the celebration and glorification of acts of
terrorism and organizations that promote them, are permitted to flour-
ish.
This Amendment establishes requires the withholding of financial aid
from any institution of the State University of New York or City Univer-
sity of New York which directly or indirectly permits organizations
designated as terrorist organizations under 8 U.S.C. § 1189 and bans
the funding and use of campus facilities or property by any student or
faculty group, organization or other entity which directly or indirectly
promotes, encourages, advocates for or permits activities on campus in
support of terrorist organizations as designated under 8 U.S.C. § 1189.
SUNY/CUNY land and taxpayer dollars will no longer provide the stage for
purveyors of hate, violence and terror to perform.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S722: 355 education law, 6221 education law, 6221(A) education law, 6304 education law, 6304(1) education law