Senate higher-education committee confirms two trustees, reports nine bills to the floor

ALBANY — The New York State Senate Committee on Higher Education confirmed two gubernatorial nominees and reported nine bills on May 20 during its final scheduled committee meeting of the year.

The committee confirmed a nominee for trustee of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation and a nominee for trustee of the City University of New York board of trustees. It then considered nine bills that the committee reported either to the Senate floor or to the Finance Committee, including measures on licensure display requirements for massage therapists, authorizing nursing students to administer certain vaccines, allowing modest income adjustments for Excelsior Scholarship eligibility, and authorizing SUNY land use at Stony Brook for housing.

Why it matters: The bills affect licensure rules, clinical training and scope for allied health workers, scholarship eligibility, and university land use — issues that directly touch students, health-care trainees and higher-education employers across the state. Reporting a bill out of committee advances it to the full Senate for further consideration.

The committee met remotely and opened at 10:32 a.m.; it adjourned at about 10:59 a.m. Committee members present included Senators Fahey, Jackson, May, Gruffalo (ranking member), Murray and Oberacker, and committee staff identified as Jan Dorman (committee director) and Beth Lamountain (committee clerk).

Nominations

The committee considered two nominations and confirmed both. The first nominee, identified in the record as Francis Tonkinette, appeared remotely to be considered for trustee of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). The nominee summarized a background in vocational training and technical education and said, “I am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given to make a difference in the educational field.” A motion to move the nomination was made by Senator Fahey and seconded by Senator Murray; the record indicates the nomination was confirmed.

The second nomination, Lorraine Cortez Vasquez, was considered for the City University of New York (CUNY) Board of Trustees. The committee noted that Vasquez previously served seven years as a CUNY trustee and that she missed four of 55 recorded meetings (one absence during the COVID period). A motion to move the nomination was made and seconded; the record shows the nomination was confirmed.

Bills reported

The committee considered nine bills (listed below with the sponsor name as recorded in the committee transcript and the committee action). Where committee debate or comments occurred, the record of those comments is noted.

- S.1271A (sponsor recorded as Senator Adabo): Amends Education Law to require a licensed massage therapist to display a state license that includes the therapist’s photograph. Motion to move the bill was made by Senator Jackson and seconded by Senator Murray. The bill was reported to the floor.

- S.5706 (sponsor recorded as Senator Stoufis): Amends Education Law and Public Health Law to allow nursing students to administer certain vaccines under patient-specific orders or non-patient-specific orders. A motion to move the bill was made and the bill was reported to the floor. (Sponsor name as recorded in the transcript.)

- S.5727 (sponsor recorded as Senator Hartman/Gabriel Reed in transcript): Amends Education Law to allow dental hygienists to administer block anesthesia in addition to local anesthesia and infiltration. The bill was moved and reported to the floor.

- S.16155A (sponsor recorded as Senator Bailey): Amends Education Law to allow a 3% annual income increase without disqualifying a student from Excelsior Scholarship eligibility. Senator Murray asked for clarification about the effect on a student’s eligibility following a modest pay increase; the sponsor confirmed the bill is intended to prevent disqualification for such small raises. The bill was moved and reported to the Finance Committee.

- S.6329 (sponsor recorded as Senator Bernard): Amends Education Law to change educational requirements for licensure (details in bill language). The bill was moved and reported to the floor.

- S.6759 (sponsor recorded as Senator Fernandez): Amends Education Law to authorize a parent or legal guardian to [text in transcript truncated/not fully specified]. The bill was moved and reported to the floor.

- S.7367A (sponsor recorded in transcript): Amends Education Law to establish certain recognitions or benefits for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians (transcript: “establish every volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician ...”). Several senators with volunteer-firefighter experience spoke in support; Senator Webb asked whether City University of New York was included in the bill language and the sponsor confirmed that inclusion. The bill was moved and reported to the floor.

- S.7580 (sponsor recorded as Senator Clear in transcript): Amends Education Law to ensure the full number of available merit scholarships is available in the next succeeding period after the law takes effect. The bill was moved and reported to the floor.

- S.76168 (sponsor recorded as Senator Martinez): Authorizes the use of certain SUNY lands at Stony Brook for housing. Senator Mason spoke about housing challenges for faculty and staff at Stony Brook and expressed support. The bill was moved and reported to the floor.

Votes at a glance

All nine bills were reported out of committee (either to the Senate floor or to the Finance Committee) according to the transcript. Two nominations were confirmed. The transcript records motions, seconds and voice outcomes (e.g., “Aye” and “Opposed?”) but does not contain roll-call vote tallies in the committee record; the minutes show each moved item was reported or confirmed as noted above.

What committee members said

Committee discussion was brief on most bills. Notable comments included: - Senator May emphasized the importance of prison education while questioning the HESC nominee and later praised the bill that would allow parents to facilitate certain dental care for children living in poverty. - Senator Murray asked for clarification that the Excelsior Scholarship provision would prevent small raises from disqualifying recipients; staff/sponsor confirmed that intent. - Several senators with volunteer-firefighting experience spoke in favor of S.7367A as a recruitment and recognition measure. Senator Webb asked that CUNY be explicitly included; the sponsor indicated CUNY is covered.

Background and next steps

Reporting a bill out of committee sends it to the next stage of Senate consideration (the full Senate or to Finance Committee where specified). The committee’s actions mean these measures may next appear on the Senate floor for debate, amendment or a vote. The two trustee confirmations will be processed and the nominees notified, per the committee chair’s remarks.

Ending

The committee adjourned at approximately 10:59 a.m. after completing its agenda, which the chair noted was the last committee meeting anticipated for the year.