Bill Text: NY S00755 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes the volunteer firefighters of New York higher education learning plan.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-05-01 - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE [S00755 Detail]
Download: New_York-2017-S00755-Amended.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 755--A 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 4, 2017 ___________ Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, BROOKS, KAMINSKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit- tee AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the volunteer fire- fighters of New York higher education learning plan 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 669-i 2 to read as follows: 3 § 669-i. Volunteer firefighters of New York higher education learning 4 plan. 1. Eligibility. Undergraduate students who are matriculated in an 5 approved undergraduate program at the state university of New York and 6 are members in good standing in one of New York's volunteer fire compa- 7 nies shall be eligible for an award under this section, provided the 8 applicant: (a) signs a contract with the corporation agreeing to work 9 for a New York volunteer fire company on a full-time basis for five 10 years; and (b) complies with the applicable provisions of this article 11 and all requirements promulgated by the corporation for the adminis- 12 tration of the program. 13 2. Within the amounts appropriated therefor, awards shall be granted 14 to applicants that the corporation has certified are eligible to receive 15 such awards. Such awards shall be made to recipients after the success- 16 ful completion of each academic year, as defined by the corporation. 17 3. An award shall entitle the recipient to annual payments for not 18 more than four academic years of full-time undergraduate study. 19 4. Recipients shall receive an annual payment for the successful 20 completion of an academic year, equal to up to one hundred percent of 21 the annual tuition charged to state resident students attending an EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD01877-02-8S. 755--A 2 1 undergraduate program full-time at the state university of New York, or 2 actual tuition charged, whichever is less. 3 5. The corporation shall convert to a student loan the full amount of 4 the award given pursuant to this section plus interest, according to a 5 schedule to be determined by the corporation if: (a) a recipient fails 6 to complete their course of studies as agreed to with the corporation or 7 is not a member in good standing in a New York volunteer fire company 8 while obtaining his or her degree; or (b) two years after the completion 9 of their course of studies as agreed to with the corporation it is found 10 that the recipient is not working for a New York volunteer fire company; 11 or (c) a recipient has not worked for a New York volunteer fire company 12 for five of the seven years after the completion of their course of 13 studies as agreed to with the corporation; or (d) a recipient fails to 14 respond to requests by the Fireman's Association of the State of New 15 York for the status of his or her academic or professional progress. 16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.