BILL NUMBER: S9034B
SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to phasing out certain
mandatory university fees for certain graduate students and adjunct
staff
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To codify the phasing out of certain mandatory university fees for grad-
uate students prohibiting the State University of New York (SONY) from
charging any current or future mandatory fees, except for the graduate
student association student activity fee, to a graduate student serving
as a graduate teaching assistant, graduate assistant, graduate research
assistant, graduate research associate or graduate teaching associate.
and prohibits the City University of New York (CONY) from charging any
current or future mandatory fees, except for the graduate student asso-
ciation student activity fee, to a graduate student serving as a gradu-
ate assistant, adjunct instructor, adjunct lecturer, adjunct college
laboratory technician, or a non-teaching adjunct staff member.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the
education law by adding a new subparagraph 12 to provide that beginning
in the 2026-2027 academic year, eligible SONY graduate student workers
shall only be charged 25% of mandatory university fees, excluding the
graduate student association student activity fee. The section further
provides that beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year and thereafter,
no mandatory university fees shall be charged to eligible SONY graduate
student workers, excluding the graduate student association student
activity fee.
Section 2. Amends section 6206 of the education law by adding a new
subdivision 25 to provide that beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year,
eligible CONY graduate student workers and adjunct staff shall only be
charged 25% of mandatory university fees, excluding the graduate student
association student activity fee. The section further provides that
beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year and thereafter, no mandatory
university fees shall be charged to eligible CONY graduate student work-
ers and adjunct staff, excluding the graduate student association
student activity fee.
Section 3. Sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Graduate student workers and adjunct staff are responsible for essential
teaching, research, instructional, and academic support functions
throughout SONY and CONY campuses. These employees teach courses, hold
office hours, mentor students, conduct research, grade assignments, and
provide critical support services that are necessary to the operation
and academic success of the university systems.
Despite their significant contributions, many graduate student workers
and adjunct staff are still required to pay substantial mandatory
university fees back to the institutions where they work and study. For
many individuals, these fees represent a significant portion of their
annual income and create additional financial hardship for workers
already operating under limited compensation structures.
This legislation provides a phased-in approach to financial relief for
eligible SONY and CONY graduate student workers and adjunct staff.
Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, covered employees would only
be responsible for paying 25% of mandatory university fees. Beginning
in the 2027-2028 academic year and thereafter, mandatory university fees
would be fully eliminated for the specifically identified SONY and CONY
graduate student workers and adjunct staff covered under the bill, while
maintaining the graduate student association activity fee.
The bill also clarifies the specific SONY and CONY positions eligible
for the fee reduction and elimination to ensure the language is narrowly
tailored to graduate student workers and adjunct staff serving in desig-
nated academic and instructional roles.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025 - Referred to Higher Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S9034: 6206 education law
S9034A: 6206 education law
S9034B: 6206 education law