A 6507: Establishes a service learning, internship or independent study program for students interested in working with individuals with developmental disabilities; mandates such program shall consist of a work component with verifiable activities related to individuals with developmental disabilities as determined by the state university trustees, and an academic component related to such activity that will be completed through either a written report or journal, or other written assignment as determined by the state university trustees.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6507 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY March 5, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. TANNOUSIS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a service learning, internship or independent study program for students inter- ested in working with individuals with developmental disabilities The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The United States department of justice 2 believes that people with disabilities should live and work in the "most 3 integrated setting" defined as "a setting that enables individuals with 4 disabilities to interact with non-disabled persons to the fullest extent 5 possible." In New York state, the office for people with developmental 6 disabilities is mandating that all workshop providers submit a proposal 7 outlining how they will transform the sheltered workshop either into an 8 "integrated business," a business which employs disabled and non-disa- 9 bled individuals, or how they will assist in creating transition plans 10 for every individual currently employed in the workshop. This bill 11 proposes to create a service learning, internship or independent study 12 program within state-operated institutions and community colleges to 13 allow students seeking careers aiding individuals with developmental 14 disabilities to be given academic credit and practical application at 15 sheltered workshops. In doing this, sheltered workshops will be allowed 16 to change their business models to have individuals with developmental 17 disabilities working directly with individuals without disabilities. 18 § 2. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new 19 subdivision 22 to read as follows: 20 22. The state university trustees shall adopt regulations to establish 21 a service learning, internship or independent study program for students 22 that work with individuals with developmental disabilities. Each state- 23 operated institution and community college may, as determined by its 24 president, offer such a service learning, internship or independent EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD09672-01-5 
 A. 6507 2 1 study program to eligible students in accordance with the regulations 2 prescribed by the state university trustees. Such program shall consist 3 of: (a) a work component with verifiable activities related to individ- 4 uals with developmental disabilities as determined by the state univer- 5 sity trustees, and (b) an academic component related to such activity 6 that will be completed through either a written report or journal, or 7 other written assignment as determined by the state university trustees. 8 Such program shall be open to any student enrolled in an associate or 9 baccalaureate degree-producing program on a full-time or part-time basis 10 that is interested in pursuing a career interacting with the individuals 11 with developmental disabilities. No more than six academic credits shall 12 be awarded to a student for successful completion of such service learn- 13 ing, internship or independent study program. In developing the service 14 learning, internship or independent study program described in this 15 subdivision, the state university trustees may, in their discretion, 16 consult with the New York state office for people with developmental 17 disabilities and/or any statewide organization that represents the 18 interests of individuals with developmental disabilities. 19 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 20 have become a law. Effective immediately, the state university trustees 21 are authorized to add, amend and/or repeal any rule or regulation neces- 22 sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date.