BILL NUMBER: S8383
SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to provide for the adjustment of stipends of certain incumbents
in the state university of New York and designating moneys therefor; to
continue a doctoral program recruitment and retention enhancement fund;
to continue work-life services and pre-tax programs; to continue a
professional development committee; to continue a comprehensive college
graduate program recruitment and retention fund; to continue a fee miti-
gation fund; to continue a downstate location fund; to continue a joint
labor management advisory board; to continue an accidental death bene-
fit; and making an appropriation therefor
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would implement the terms of a collectively negotiated agree-
ment (hereafter "the Agreement") between the State of New York (hereaft-
er "State") and the CWA Local 1104/Graduate Students Employees Union
(hereafter "GSEU"), the employee organization representing members of
the State University Graduate Student Negotiating Unit (hereafter
"Unit") established pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill would provide for an increase in stipends for
eligible members of the Unit in the following amounts: a 3 percent annu-
al increase in the stipends effective on October 1, 2023; a 3 percent
annual increase in the stipends effective on October 1, 2024; and a 3
percent annual increase in the stipends effective on October 1, 2025.
Section 1 of the bill would also provide for an increase in the minimum
stipend to eligible members of the Unit and for a lump sum payment for
eligible members of the Unit. Only employees who were on the State
payroll on the payment effective date as well as at the time of payment
will be eligible to receive any retroactive increase.
Section 2 of this bill would continue the Doctoral Program Recruitment
and Retention Enhancement Fund from amounts appropriated in the bill, to
enhance employee compensation for the purpose of recruitment and
retention of new and existing doctoral students in selected programs,
and provide for the expiration of the program on July 1, 2026. Pursuant
to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, these funds may be
reallocated for use by other joint committees upon mutual agreement of
the parties.
Section 3 of this bill would continue the Comprehensive College Graduate
Program Recruitment and Retention Fund from amounts appropriated in the
bill, to enhance employee compensation for the purpose of recruitment
and retention of new and existing graduate students in selected degree
programs, and provide for the expiration of the program on July 1, 2026.
Pursuant to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, these
funds may be reallocated for use by other joint committees upon mutual
agreement of the parties.
Section 4 of this bill would continue the Fee Mitigation Fund from
amounts appropriated in the bill, for the purpose of funding the cost of
various fees including but not limited to technology fees, and provide
for the expiration of the program on July 1, 2026. Pursuant to the terms
of the collective bargaining agreement, these funds may be reallocated
for use by other joint committees upon mutual agreement of the parties.
Section 5 of this bill would continue the Downstate Location Fund from
the amounts appropriated in the bill, for the purpose of funding salary
adjustments in the downstate area for employees whose work site is New
York City, Suffolk, Nassau, Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam, or
Orange counties or as otherwise agreed to by the parties, and provide
for the expiration of the program on July 1, 2026. Pursuant to the terms
of the collective bargaining agreement, these funds may be reallocated
for use by other joint committees upon mutual agreement of the parties.
Section 6 of this bill would continue the Joint Labor-Management Advi-
sory Board, which would study and make recommendations concerning issues
of family benefits. Pursuant to the terms of the collective bargaining
agreement, these funds may be reallocated for use by other joint commit-
tees upon mutual agreement of the parties.
Section 7 of this bill would continue Work-Services Programs for gradu-
ate student employees, within appropriations available for that purpose,
and provide for the expiration of the program on July 1, 2026. Pursuant
to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, these funds may be
reallocated for use by other joint committees upon mutual agreement of
the parties.
Section 8 of this bill would continue the Professional Development
Committee to review, make recommendations, and implement programs for
professional development, and provide for the expiration of the program
on July 1, 2026. Pursuant to the terms of the collective bargaining
agreement, these funds may be reallocated for use by other joint commit-
tees upon mutual agreement of the parties.
Section 9 of this bill would make the appropriations contained in this
bill available to the State for the payment of grievance and arbitration
awards as provided for in the collectively negotiated agreement.
Section 10 of this bill would continue the Accidental Death Benefit in
the amount of $50,000, payable to an employee's surviving spouse and
children or to the employee's estate in the event an employee dies on or
after July 2, 2007 as the result of an accidental on-the-job injury.
Section 11 of this bill would provide that the stipend adjustments and
benefit modifications provided in this bill would not be implemented
until the Director of the Budget and the Comptroller receive a letter
certifying that there is in effect with respect to the unit a fully
executed and ratified collectively negotiated agreement.
Sections 12 through 14 of this bill would set forth the dates of enti-
tlement to the stipend increases and deferred payment of stipend
increases provided by this bill.
Section 15 of this bill would authorize and direct the Comptroller, at
the request of the Director of the Budget and in accordance with section
4 of the state finance law, to transfer up to $30,200,000 from the
general fund to carry out the provisions of section sixteen of this act.
Section 16 of this bill would set forth the use and amount of appropri-
ation necessary to implement this bill.
Section 17 of this bill would make it effective immediately and deem it
to have been in effect on and after July 2, 2023.
 
EXISTING LAW:
Chapter 337 of the Laws of 2019 addresses a variety of terms and condi-
tions of employment established by the previous collective bargaining
agreement for the members of the Unit for the period of July 2, 2019 to
July 1, 2023.
 
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT:
This bill is necessary to implement the terms of the collectively nego-
tiated agreement between the State and the GSEU, the employee organiza-
tion representing members of the State University Graduate Student Nego-
tiating Unit, in relation to the terms and conditions of employment of
members of the Unit, including but not limited to negotiated stipend
increases and programs.
 
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
This bill would provide appropriations totaling approximately $40
million, to cover the cost of the agreement, through the 2025-2026
fiscal year.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would take effect immediately and be deemed to have been in
effect on and after July 2, 2023.