A 6644: Creates within SUNY an office of higher education in prison to coordinate access to higher education for individuals during and after incarceration; directs such office to create a plan by 1/1/2029 to establish a degree-granting program in every viable correctional facility in the state; directs such office to enroll at least 2,000 students in degree-granting programs as soon as practicable; makes related provisions.
The bill aims to promote and coordinate access to higher education for individuals during and after incarceration in New York State. A new office of higher education in prison will be created within the state university of New York, with the purpose of establishing and operating degree-granting programs in every correctional facility in the state. The office will develop and implement a plan to enroll at least 2,000 students in degree-granting programs as soon as possible. The commissioner of the department of corrections and community supervision will work with the state university of New York and the office of higher education in prison to maximize educational opportunities for students, including access to federal and state financial aid. The bill will take effect immediately.
- What is the current status of A 6644?
- As of January 9, 2026, A 6644 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "referred to higher education".
- Did A 6644 pass?
- Not yet. A 6644 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote A 6644, and where is it now?
- A 6644 was authored by Asm. Erik Dilan. Its committee of record is Assembly Higher Education. It is filed under EDN, alongside 312 other New York EDN bills this session.
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to higher education |
| Mar. 19, 2025 | amend and recommit to higher education |
| Mar. 19, 2025 | print number 6644a |
| Mar. 06, 2025 | referred to higher education |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6644 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY March 6, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. DILAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to degree-granting programs offered by SUNY's office of higher education in prison The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new 2 subdivision 63 to read as follows: 3 63. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and/or regulations neces- 4 sary to direct the university of the state of New York's office of high- 5 er education in prison to develop and implement a plan with the goal of 6 operating a degree-granting program in every correctional facility, as 7 defined by section two of the correction law, located in the state, and 8 enrolling at least two thousand students in such programs, by January 9 first, two thousand twenty-nine. 10 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD08552-02-5