HESC Spotlight: NY Legislature's Higher Education Committees
Anne Doyle
As good citizens, it’s important to know who our local representatives are in the state government. For those of us in the field of student financial aid, knowing who the key decision makers are for higher education issues in the New York State Legislature can also be very valuable.
There is a Higher Education Committee in both the NYS Senate and the Assembly. These committees are responsible for all legislation relating to higher education in the state, including student financial aid. They also deal with policy initiatives affecting SUNY, CUNY, independent colleges and universities, proprietary vocational schools, and licensed professions. In addition, because of the complex and comprehensive nature of New York's system of higher education, the Committees are involved in shaping legislation in such diverse public policy fields as health care, economic and workforce development, technology, capital financing, and elementary and secondary education.
Members of these committees have played a part, along with the Legislature’s fiscal committees, in deciding about the Governor’s proposed NYHELPs initiative.
The chairperson of the Assembly’s Higher Education Committee is Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, of Manhattan. The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher Education is Senator Toby Ann Stavisky of Queens.
The members of the committees and areas they come from are:
Assembly’s Higher Education Committee
Chairperson: Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, New York
Assemblymember Tom Alfano, Nassau
Assemblymember Inez D. Barron, Kings
Assemblymember Marc W. Butler, Otsego, Fulton, Herkimer
Assemblymember Kevin A. Cahill, Ulster, Dutchess
Assemblymember Nelson L. Castro, Bronx
Assemblymember James D. Conte, Suffolk, Nassau
Assemblymember Michael Cusick, Richmond
Assemblymember Patricia A. Eddington, Suffolk
Assemblymember Steve Englebright, Suffolk
Assemblymember Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Suffolk
Assemblymember Richard N. Gottfried, Suffolk
Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee, Rockland
Assemblymember Charles D. Lavine, Nassau
Assemblymember Barbara Lifton, Cortland, Tomkins
Assemblymember Donna A. Lupardo, Broome
Assemblymember William Magee, Madison, Oneida, Otsego
Assemblymember Joel M. Miller, Dutchess
Assemblymember Joseph D. Morelle, Monroe
Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Westchester
Assemblymember Crystal D. Peoples, Erie
Assemblymember José R. Peralta, Queens
Assemblymember Jack Quinn, Erie
Assemblymember Al Stirpe, Onondaga
Assemblymember Lou Tobacco, Richmond
Senate Committee on Higher Education
Chairperson: Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Queens
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, Westchester
Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, Manhattan/Bronx
Senator Liz Krueger, Manhattan
Senator Kevin S. Parker, Brooklyn
Senator Shirley L. Huntley, Queens/Brooklyn
Senator Brian X. Foley, Suffolk
Senator George Onorato, Brooklyn
Senator José Serrano, Manhattan
Senator Darrel J. Aubertine, Oswego, Jefferson, St. Lawrence
Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, Suffolk
Senator James L. Seward, Herkimer, Otsego, Schoharie, Greene, Cortland
Senator John J. Flanagan, Nassau
Senator Joseph E. Robach, Monroe
Senator James S. Alesi, Monroe
Senator Joseph A. Griffo, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oneida
Senator George D. Maziarz, Niagara, Orleans, Monroe
Senator Kemp Hannon, Nassau