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

                                 5162--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 12, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. BRINDISI, MOSLEY, KAMINSKY, BLAKE, SANTABARBARA,
  McDONALD, CURRAN,  MURRAY,  JAFFEE,  MILLER,  ORTIZ,  RIVERA,  CROUCH,
  DiPIETRO,  PALMESANO,  RAIA  --  Multi-Sponsored  by -- M. of A. COOK,
  DUPREY, ENGLEBRIGHT, GIGLIO, HAWLEY, HOOPER, KEARNS,  LUPARDO,  MAGEE,
  McDONOUGH,  McKEVITT,  McLAUGHLIN, SCHIMMINGER, THIELE, WALTER -- read
  once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education --  recommitted
  to  the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with Assembly Rule
  3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted  as
  amended and recommitted to said committee

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-h
to read as follows:
  S 669-H. 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 THEREFOR, 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.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07648-03-6
              

A. 5162--A                          2

  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
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.