LUPINACCI WELCOMES SELECTED REGENTS, BUT CRITICIZES VOTING PROCESS

As Assemblymembers and Senators joined yesterday in the Assembly Chamber to elect the newest members of the Board of Regents, Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,I-South Huntington), a member of the Board of Regents election committee, congratulated yesterday’s appointees, particularly Roger Tilles, who represents Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“I would like to congratulate Roger Tilles, who represents Nassau and Suffolk counties, for being appointed to his third term as a Board of Regents member. His hard work does not go unrecognized, and he has listened to our concerns when it comes to the future of education in New York State,” said Lupinacci.

However, Lupinacci also voiced his displeasure with the flawed electoral system for the Board of Regents, noting that the decision making is completely one-sided. Lupinacci has co-sponsored multiple bills that would alter the voting process for how Board of Regents members are elected.

Lupinacci’s frustration stems from the lack of bipartisanship on electing new Board of Regents members. “I’d like to see the public weigh in on the election process, which is why I’m looking to pass legislation that would generate a whole new method of electing Board of Regents members.”

Legislation Lupinacci co-sponsors to change these issues include:

• A.2754 (Kolb), which requires any changes by the Board of Regents that impose an unfunded mandate on school districts to also be approved by the state Legislature and governor prior to implementation.

• A.3915 (Ra), which restructures the selection process for the Board of Regents, requires public hearings on Regents nominees, establishes the Commission on Regents Nomination, requires an independent management study of the organization of the Board of Regents and the state Education Department, requires an annual report, and mandates annual meetings with the public, pertinent legislators for the Board, and individual Regents.

• A.2498 (Graf), which provides that there shall be 13 members of the Board of Regents, with one representing each Judicial District. Further, commencing on January 1, 2016, each Regent shall be elected, at a public election held in November, for a term of four years, each such term to expire on the 31st day of December.

“We need to pass these bills immediately and bring more lawmakers into the conversation as to who will create a fair and robust curriculum for our students in New York State,” said Lupinacci. “I look forward to seeing how the Board of Regents will progress in the coming months, as we depend on them to advance education in our state.”

###