Summary — A7400 (Print No. 7400B)
Title: Implements a students' bill of rights for State University of New York and City University of New York institutions
Status: Print No. 7400B — Referred/Amended in Higher Education Committee (introduced 03/25/2025)
Primary Sponsor: Harvey Epstein; Cosponsors: Brian Cunningham, Dana Levenberg, Chris Burdick, George Alvarez, Claire Valdez
Companion Senate Bill: S5632
What the bill is (purpose)
A7400 is titled to "implement a students' bill of rights for State University of New York and City University of New York institutions." The bill’s stated aim (by title) is to codify a set of rights and protections for students enrolled at SUNY and CUNY campuses. That typically means establishing baseline, system‑wide student rights and related administrative obligations for campuses to follow.
Note: The materials provided for this request did not include readable legislative text of the bill itself (the uploaded files are PDF data rather than the bill language). The summary below combines the available procedural metadata with an explanation of likely scope and impacts based on the bill title and common practice in similar legislation. For exact statutory language and operative provisions, consult the official bill text (Assembly Print No. 7400B) and the companion Senate bill S5632.
Key areas likely addressed (based on title and comparable bills)
While the exact provisions are not readable in the provided files, a "students' bill of rights" for public university systems commonly addresses one or more of the following:
- Student information and transparency (access to course, financial aid, and refund policies).
- Due process protections in disciplinary proceedings (notice, representation, timelines, appeal rights).
- Free expression and academic freedom protections.
- Privacy and records access (FERPA-related guarantees or clarifications).
- Access to student support services (mental health, disability services, accommodations).
- Processes for lodging complaints and seeking remedies (timelines, escalation to system offices).
- Non-discrimination and harassment/sexual misconduct procedures and protections.
- Transfer-credit and degree progress protections (clarity on transferability, guaranteed pathways).
These are illustrative categories; A7400B may include some, all, or additional/alternative rights and implementation requirements.
Who would be affected
- Primary: Students enrolled at SUNY and CUNY institutions.
- Secondary: Campus administrators, disciplinary boards, student affairs offices, legal/compliance units, faculty (if academic freedom or grading procedures addressed).
- Institutional impact: Policies, handbooks, training, complaint-processing systems, and reporting frameworks may need revision to conform to any statutory standards.
Procedural status and timeline
- Introduced in the Assembly: March 25, 2025 (referred to Higher Education).
- Print Nos. issued: 7400A (05/30/2025) and 7400B (06/02/2025).
- Committee activity: Multiple amendments and recommitments to the Higher Education Committee on 05/30/2025 and 06/02/2025. Current status (per provided record): amended and recommitted to Higher Education for further consideration.
- Companion bill in the Senate: S5632 (filed as companion).
Potential impacts and considerations
- Institutions would likely need to revise student‑facing policies, update handbooks, and train staff.
- There could be administrative costs associated with implementing new complaint processes, reporting, or student services — fiscal impacts depend on the bill’s specific mandates.
- Legal exposure may increase if statutory rights create new private remedies or enforcement mechanisms.
- The bill could standardize student protections across SUNY and CUNY, reducing variation among campuses.
Next steps for stakeholders
- Review the full printed bill text (Assembly Print No. 7400B and Senate S5632) for precise language, definitions, and enforcement/penalty provisions.
- Examine the bill’s fiscal note and committee analyses for cost estimates and implementation guidance.
- Monitor Higher Education Committee hearings and testimony for amendments and stakeholder perspectives.
- If you represent a campus or student group, prepare to submit testimony or suggested amendments addressing operational or legal concerns.
If you want, I can fetch and summarize the exact statutory text of A7400B and S5632 (when available), compare Print A and B versions, and outline specific changes between amendments.
