BILL NUMBER:S1224

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the duration of
tuition assistance awards

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to extend the duration of tuition
assistance awards to five years. Present law provides for
undergraduate students to generally receive tuition assistance
payments (TAP) for four years of study. Students who are enrolled in
certain approved 5-year undergraduate programs may receive 5 years of
TAP assistance.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Adds a new subdivision 1-a to section 604 of the education
law providing that TAP aid be available to students enrolled in
approved programs for 5 academic years in the aggregate.

Section 2. Effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

              

New York State funds two programs which provide need-based aid to all
eligible higher education students: the Tuition Assistance Program
(TAP), a state-operated financial aid program for State residents
attending approved postsecondary institutions in New York, and the
Supplemental Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) providing up to one
additional year of aid for educationally disadvantaged students
enrolled in remedial courses. STAP awards are determined in the same
manner as TAP awards. It is a given fact that the Legislature has a
history of endeavoring to maintain a balanced relationship between the
independent and public sectors of higher education. This has been
coupled with a desire to make resources available for providing
students with the maximum access in all sectors of higher education.

In past years, eligibility levels were increased, along with the
maximum awards available to students attending New York's colleges.
However, there has been no effort to increase the number of years of
eligibility for these very same students.

New factors have evolved during this time, including the lack of class
availability for those students who hope to graduate within the
"normal" four year period. Subsequently, many students have been
forced to attend college for up to five years to obtain their
undergraduate degree. Many students who need to work to support
themselves are also forced to reduce their coursework, also prolonging
their college years. New York needs to factor these circumstances into
the equation when allocating TAP assistance.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2014: S6844/A2502 - Higher Education/Higher Education


FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law.