STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 546--A 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 9, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. STIRPE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing loan forgiveness to credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 679-k 2 to read as follows: 3 § 679-k. Credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor loan 4 forgiveness program. 1. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan 5 forgiveness awards to credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse coun- 6 selors for the purpose of increasing the number of individuals serving 7 in the service area of substance abuse counseling. 8 2. Certification. Credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counse- 9 lor loan forgiveness awards shall be awarded each year. Such awards 10 shall be allocated as provided in this section to eligible credentialed 11 alcoholism and substance abuse counselors, hereinafter referred to as 12 CASACS, as certified to the commissioner by the president. 13 3. Definition. For the purposes of this section, a CASAC shall mean an 14 individual who is currently credentialed by the New York state office of 15 alcoholism and substance abuse services in accordance with the New York 16 Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 14 Section 853.5. 17 4. Eligibility. A CASAC shall be eligible for an award under this 18 section provided that: (i) such person has been a resident of the state 19 of New York for a minimum of one year and (ii) such person is employed 20 as a CASAC in a facility licensed by the state of New York. 21 5. Duration. Each award shall entitle the recipient to an annual award 22 and a recipient shall be eligible for no more than three years. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00501-02-9A. 546--A 2 1 6. Amount. The corporation shall grant such awards and based on avail- 2 ability of funds in an amount not to exceed the total cost of the 3 student loan debt. 4 7. Rules and regulations. The corporation is authorized to promulgate 5 rules and regulations, and may promulgate emergency regulations neces- 6 sary for the implementation of the provisions of this section. 7 § 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2021.