New York A 11415: Provides that certain institutions of higher education shall meet certain standards that do not infringe upon academic freedom

Bill Text

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A11415 Summary:

BILL NOA11415 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S10303

&nbsp

SPONSORRules (Moreno)

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Amd §§6401 & 6430, Ed L; add §216, Civ Serv L; add §79-r, Civ Rts L

&nbsp

Provides that certain institutions of higher education shall meet certain standards or adopt rules that do not infringe upon academic freedom; provides that academic freedom shall be defined by the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure with 1970 Interpretive Comments; establishes courses of action that may be taken int the event of alleged violations of academic freedom.

Go to top A11415 Actions:

BILL NOA11415 

&nbsp

05/15/2026referred to higher education

Go to topA11415 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA11415 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA11415 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 11415

 IN ASSEMBLY

 May 15, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Moreno) --
 read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, the civil service law, and the civil
 rights law, in relation to protecting academic freedom for employees
 at higher education institutions

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of
 2 section 6401 of the education law, as amended by chapter 717 of the laws
 3 of 1981, is amended to read as follows:
 4 (iii) The institution must meet such standards of educational quality
 5 applicable to comparable public institutions of higher education, as may
 6 be from time to time established by the regents. Such standards shall
 7 not infringe upon the academic freedom of any faculty member, librarian,
 8 or other staff, regardless of the specific nature of an academic
 9 appointment, be it initial, multi-year, temporary, permanent, or
 10 adjunct. For purposes of this section, academic freedom shall be defined
 11 by the "1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure with
 12 1970 Interpretive Comments" from the American Association of University
 13 Professors and shall include:
 14 (A) Freedom in research and publication where these activities do not
 15 interfere with adequate performance of academic duties;
 16 (B) Freedom in the classroom to discuss controversial issues relevant
 17 to the discipline;
 18 (C) Extramural free speech and publication, though nothing in this
 19 section shall be construed to authorize any speech that involves true
 20 threats or incitement to imminent lawless action; and
 21 (D) Intramural free speech.
 22 § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 6430 of the education law, as amended by
 23 chapter 75 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
 24 1. The trustees or other governing board of every college chartered by
 25 the regents or incorporated by special act of the legislature and which
 26 maintains a campus, unless otherwise provided, shall adopt written rules
 27 for implementing all policies required pursuant to this article and for

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15726-01-6

 A. 11415 2

 1 the maintenance of public order on college campuses and other college
 2 property used for educational purposes and provide a program for the
 3 enforcement thereof. Such rules shall prohibit, among other things, any
 4 action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers mental
 5 or physical health or involves the forced consumption of liquor or drugs
 6 for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organization.
 7 Such rules shall govern the conduct of students, faculty and other staff
 8 as well as visitors and other licensees and invitees on such campuses
 9 and property. The penalties for violations of such rules shall be
 10 clearly set forth therein and shall include provisions for the ejection
 11 of a violator from such campus and property, in the case of a student or
 12 faculty violator [his or her] their suspension, expulsion, or other
 13 appropriate disciplinary action, and in the case of an organization
 14 which authoriz