S 4551: 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.
What S 4551 does, verified January 10, 2026
The bill aims to promote and coordinate access to higher education for individuals during and after incarceration in New York State. The State University of New York will establish and operate degree-granting programs in every correctional facility located in the state that is deemed viable. The office of higher education in prison will enroll at least 2,000 students in these 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.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: RECOMMIT, ENACTING CLAUSE STRICKEN (2026-01-09)Alert me
Quick answers about S 4551
- What is the current status of S 4551?
- As of January 10, 2026, S 4551 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 9, 2026, was "RECOMMIT, ENACTING CLAUSE STRICKEN".
- Did S 4551 pass?
- Not yet. S 4551 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote S 4551, and where is it now?
- S 4551 was authored by Sen. Patricia Fahy with 1 coauthor. It is filed under EDN, alongside 312 other New York EDN bills this session.
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions6 total · showing 5
| Jan. 09, 2026 | RECOMMIT, ENACTING CLAUSE STRICKEN |
| Jan. 07, 2026 | REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION |
| Apr. 03, 2025 | REFERENCE CHANGED TO HIGHER EDUCATION |
| Mar. 21, 2025 | AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION |
| Mar. 21, 2025 | PRINT NUMBER 4551A |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 6, 2025 · 215 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4551 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 6, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. FAHY, SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on 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
Text of S 4551 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions