Bill Text: NY S04461 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Creates a service learning program for students serving as active volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance workers; mandates certain features of such program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION [S04461 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S04461-Introduced.html



                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          4461

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                    February 9, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education

        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to certain service learn-
          ing, internship, or independent study programs

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new
     2  subdivision 22 to read as follows:
     3    22. The state university trustees shall adopt regulations to establish
     4  a  service  learning,  internship,  or  independent  study  program  for
     5  students that serve  as  active  volunteer  firefighters  and/or  active
     6  volunteer  ambulance workers. Each state-operated institution and commu-
     7  nity college may, as determined by its president, offer such  a  service
     8  learning,  internship, or independent study program to eligible students
     9  in accordance with the regulations prescribed by  the  state  university
    10  trustees.  Such  program shall consist of (a) a community service compo-
    11  nent that may be completed through no less than twenty hours of  verifi-
    12  able volunteer firefighting activities, volunteer ambulance or emergency
    13  response  activities,  or  other activities related to volunteer fire or
    14  ambulance service as determined by the state  university  trustees,  and
    15  (b) an academic component related to such volunteer activity that may be
    16  completed  through a written report or journal, or other written assign-
    17  ment as determined by the state university trustees. Such program  shall
    18  be  open  to  any  student  enrolled  in  an  associate or baccalaureate
    19  degree-producing program on a full-time or part-time basis  that  is  an
    20  active  volunteer  firefighter  as defined in subdivision one of section
    21  two hundred fifteen of the general municipal law or an active  volunteer
    22  ambulance  worker  as  defined  in  subdivision  fourteen of section two
    23  hundred nineteen-k of the general municipal  law.    No  more  than  six
    24  academic credits shall be awarded to a student for successful completion
    25  of  such  service  learning, internship or independent study program. In

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05612-01-3

        S. 4461                             2

     1  developing the service learning, internship or independent study program
     2  described in this subdivision, the state university trustees may, in its
     3  discretion, consult with the  office  of  fire  prevention  and  control
     4  and/or  any  statewide organization that represents the interests of the
     5  volunteer fire service or the volunteer ambulance service.
     6    § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
     7  have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
     8  repeal  of  any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of
     9  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made  and  completed
    10  on or before such effective date.
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