Extends certain tuition waivers for police officer students of the city university of New York

2025 Regular Session Introduced by William Colton and 2 co-sponsors

Extends and prolongs the CUNY police officer tuition waiver through July 1, 2028 to ensure ongoing financial assistance for eligible students.

RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY

Bill overview

Bill: A 11007

Session: 2025-2026

Jurisdiction: New York

Topic: Extends certain tuition waivers for police officer students of the City University of New York (CUNY)

Introduced by: Assemblymember Williams

Current status: As of the latest action, advanced to third reading (May 7, 2026); prior actions include reported (May 5, 2026) and committee referrals

Purpose and intent

The bill extends the effectiveness of a tuition waiver program for police officer students enrolled at CUNY.

It updates the expiration timeline to ensure the waiver remains in place for a longer period, maintaining financial assistance for eligible police officer students pursuing higher education at CUNY.

Key provisions

Section amended: Section 2 of chapter 548 of the laws of 2004 (as amended by chapter 155 of the laws of 2024), which governs the tuition waivers for police officer students at CUNY.

Effective date: The act takes effect immediately.

Expiration/repeal date: The act is now set to expire and be deemed repealed on July 1, 2028 (previously July 1, 2026).

Rationale: By extending the expiration, the bill ensures continued availability of the tuition waiver for police officers attending CUNY without interruption.

Who is affected

Primary beneficiaries: Police officers enrolled as students at the City University of New York who qualify for the cited tuition waiver program.

Institutions affected: City University of New York (CUNY) and its eligible police officer student populations.

Administrative/operational impact: CUNY and related state education authorities would administer and oversee the continued provision of the waiver under the extended sunset date.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative steps already taken:

Referred to the Committee on Higher Education (April 17, 2026)
Reported (May 5, 2026)
Advanced to third reading (May 7, 2026)

Sunset/expiration:

The waiver program is extended to expire July 1, 2028, after which the law would be repealed unless further legislative action taken.

Immediate effect:

The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Potential impact and considerations

Financial: Extends cost savings for eligible police officer students at CUNY, potentially improving access to higher education and reducing debt burden for those in policing careers.

Policy alignment: Continues the state’s support mechanism for police personnel pursuing higher education, aligning with public safety workforce development goals.

Planning implications for students: Enables longer planning horizons for those considering CUNY programs while the waiver remains in effect.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to prior versions (e.g., 2024 amendment) or provide a brief fiscal impact note based on available data.