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

                                  8206

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 11, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Education

AN  ACT  to  amend the education law, in relation to redefining science,
  technology, engineering, and math education (STEM)

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative  findings  and intent. The legislature hereby
finds that the state requires a comprehensive approach to science, tech-
nology, engineering, and  math  education  (STEM).  Under  current  law,
little  to  no  incentives  or  programmatic funding exists to push STEM
education forward. The legislature further finds it essential  to  bring
back  business  and  industry in STEM education programs by getting them
involved for career development. Furthermore, the legislature  finds  it
questionable whether current curriculum focuses on the adequate areas to
provide  children with the standards needed to fulfill a math or science
job opportunity in the future.
  Therefore be it resolved that the legislature intends  to  mirror  the
federal efforts underway to promote STEM and enable New York students to
compete  internationally  in  educational  fields  that drive the global
economy and to provide the appropriate funding for STEM programs.
  S 2. Section 669-e of the education law, as added by section 1 of part
G of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
  S 669-e. New York state science, technology, engineering and mathemat-
ics incentive program. 1. Undergraduate students who are matriculated in
an approved undergraduate  program  leading  to  a  career  in  science,
COMPUTER  SCIENCE,  technology,  engineering INCLUDING DESIGN SKILLS AND
PRACTICE or mathematics at a New York state public institution of higher
education shall be eligible for an award under  this  section,  provided
the  applicant:  (a)  graduates  from  a high school located in New York
state during or after the two thousand thirteen--fourteen  school  year;
and  (b)  graduates within the top ten percent of his or her high school

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11341-02-5
              

A. 8206                             2

class; and (c) enrolls in full-time study each  term  beginning  in  the
fall  term after his or her high school graduation in an approved under-
graduate program in science, COMPUTER SCIENCE, technology,  engineering,
INCLUDING  DESIGN  SKILLS AND PRACTICE or mathematics, as defined by the
corporation, at a New York state public institution of higher education;
and (d) signs a contract with the corporation agreeing that his  or  her
award will be converted to a student loan in the event the student fails
to  comply  with  the  terms of this program as set forth in subdivision
four of this section; and (e) complies with the applicable provisions of
this article and all requirements promulgated by the corporation for the
administration of the program.
  2. Awards shall be granted beginning with the two thousand  fourteen--
two thousand fifteen academic year and thereafter to applicants that the
corporation  has  determined  are  eligible  to receive such awards. The
corporation shall grant such awards in an amount equal to the amount  of
undergraduate  tuition  for  residents  of New York state charged by the
state university of New York or actual  tuition  charged,  whichever  is
less;  provided,  however, (i) a student who receives educational grants
and/or scholarships that cover the student's  full  cost  of  attendance
shall  not  be  eligible  for  an  award  under this program; (ii) for a
student who receives educational grants and/or scholarships  that  cover
less  than  the  student's  full  cost of attendance, such grants and/or
scholarships shall not be deemed duplicative of this program and may  be
held  concurrently  with  an award under this program, provided that the
combined benefits do not exceed the student's full cost  of  attendance;
and  (iii) an award under this program shall be applied to tuition after
the application of all other educational grants and scholarships limited
to tuition and shall be reduced in an amount equal to  such  educational
grants  and/or  scholarships.  Upon  notification of an award under this
program, the institution shall defer the amount of tuition equal to  the
award.  No  award  shall  be  final  until  the  recipient's  successful
completion of a term has been certified by the institution.
  3. An eligible recipient shall not receive an award for more than four
academic years of full-time undergraduate study or five  academic  years
if  the  program  of  study  normally requires five years, excluding any
allowable interruption of study.
  4. 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  an  approved  undergraduate  program  in science, COMPUTER
SCIENCE, technology, engineering, INCLUDING DESIGN SKILLS  AND  PRACTICE
or  mathematics  or  changes  majors to a program of undergraduate study
other  than  in  science,  COMPUTER  SCIENCE,  technology,  engineering,
INCLUDING  DESIGN  SKILLS  AND  PRACTICE  or  mathematics;  or  (b) upon
completion of such undergraduate degree program  a  recipient  fails  to
either (i) complete five years of continuous full time employment in the
science,  COMPUTER  SCIENCE,  technology,  engineering, INCLUDING DESIGN
SKILLS AND PRACTICE or mathematics field with a public or private entity
located within New York state, or (ii) maintain residency  in  New  York
state for such period of employment; or (c) a recipient fails to respond
to  requests by the corporation for the status of his or her academic or
professional progress. The terms  and  conditions  of  this  subdivision
shall  be  deferred  for  individuals  who  graduate with a degree in an
approved undergraduate program in science, COMPUTER SCIENCE, technology,
engineering, INCLUDING DESIGN SKILLS AND  PRACTICE  or  mathematics  and
enroll  on  at  least  a  half-time basis in a graduate or higher degree

A. 8206                             3

program or other professional licensure degree program  until  they  are
conferred  a  degree, and shall also be deferred for any interruption in
undergraduate study or employment as established by the rules and  regu-
lations of the corporation. The terms and conditions of this subdivision
may also be deferred for a grace period, to be established by the corpo-
ration, following the completion of an approved undergraduate program in
science,  COMPUTER  SCIENCE,  technology,  engineering, INCLUDING DESIGN
SKILLS AND PRACTICE or mathematics a graduate or higher  degree  program
or other professional licensure degree program. Any obligation to comply
with such provisions as outlined in this section shall be cancelled upon
the  death  of  the  recipient.  Notwithstanding  any provisions of this
subdivision to the contrary, the corporation is authorized to promulgate
rules and regulations to provide for the waiver  or  suspension  of  any
financial obligation which would involve extreme hardship.
  5.  The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations,
and may promulgate emergency regulations, necessary for the  implementa-
tion  of  the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to,
the rate of interest charged for repayment of the student loan.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.