S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  5374

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              May 16, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- 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  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:

  Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section  669-e
to read as follows:
  S  669-E. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS OF NEW YORK HIGHER EDUCATION LEARNING
PLAN. 1. ELIGIBILITY. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE MATRICULATED IN  AN
APPROVED  UNDERGRADUATE  PROGRAM AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND
ARE MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING IN ONE OF NEW YORK'S VOLUNTEER FIRE  COMPA-
NIES  SHALL  BE  ELIGIBLE  FOR AN AWARD UNDER THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THE
APPLICANT: (A) SIGNS A CONTRACT WITH THE CORPORATION  AGREEING  TO  WORK
FOR  A  NEW  YORK  VOLUNTEER  FIRE COMPANY ON A FULL-TIME BASIS FOR FIVE
YEARS; AND (B) COMPLIES WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF  THIS  ARTICLE
AND  ALL  REQUIREMENTS  PROMULGATED  BY THE CORPORATION FOR THE ADMINIS-
TRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
  2. WITHIN THE AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFORE, AWARDS SHALL BE  GRANTED
TO APPLICANTS THAT THE CORPORATION HAS CERTIFIED ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
SUCH  AWARDS. SUCH AWARDS SHALL BE MADE TO RECIPIENTS AFTER THE SUCCESS-
FUL COMPLETION OF EACH ACADEMIC YEAR, AS DEFINED BY THE CORPORATION.
  3. AN AWARD SHALL ENTITLE THE RECIPIENT TO  ANNUAL  PAYMENTS  FOR  NOT
MORE THAN FOUR ACADEMIC YEARS OF FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDY.
  4.  RECIPIENTS  SHALL  RECEIVE  AN  ANNUAL  PAYMENT FOR THE SUCCESSFUL
COMPLETION OF AN ACADEMIC YEAR, EQUAL TO UP TO ONE  HUNDRED  PERCENT  OF
THE  ANNUAL  TUITION  CHARGED  TO  STATE  RESIDENT STUDENTS ATTENDING AN
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM FULL-TIME AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK,  OR
ACTUAL TUITION CHARGED, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
  5.  THE CORPORATION SHALL CONVERT TO A STUDENT LOAN THE FULL AMOUNT OF
THE AWARD GIVEN PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION PLUS INTEREST, ACCORDING  TO  A

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10613-02-3
              

S. 5374                             2

SCHEDULE  TO  BE DETERMINED BY THE CORPORATION IF: (A) A RECIPIENT FAILS
TO COMPLETE THEIR COURSE OF STUDIES AS AGREED TO WITH THE CORPORATION OR
IS NOT A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING IN A NEW YORK  VOLUNTEER  FIRE  COMPANY
WHILE OBTAINING HIS OR HER DEGREE; OR (B) TWO YEARS AFTER THE COMPLETION
OF THEIR COURSE OF STUDIES AS AGREED TO WITH THE CORPORATION IT IS FOUND
THAT THE RECIPIENT IS NOT WORKING FOR A NEW YORK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY;
OR  (C) A RECIPIENT HAS NOT WORKED FOR A NEW YORK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
FOR FIVE OF THE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE  COMPLETION  OF  THEIR  COURSE  OF
STUDIES  AS  AGREED TO WITH THE CORPORATION; OR (D) A RECIPIENT FAILS TO
RESPOND TO REQUESTS BY THE FIREMAN'S ASSOCIATION OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW
YORK FOR THE STATUS OF HIS OR HER ACADEMIC OR PROFESSIONAL PROGRESS.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.