S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8211
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               June 2, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend  the  education  law,  in  relation  to  providing  loan
   forgiveness for mental health nurses
 
   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  679-j
 to read as follows:
   § 679-J. NEW YORK STATE MENTAL HEALTH NURSE LOAN FORGIVENESS INCENTIVE
 PROGRAM. 1.  PURPOSE. THE PRESIDENT SHALL GRANT STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS
 AWARDS  FOR  THE  PURPOSE OF ALLEVIATING THE BURDEN OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT
 FOR MENTAL HEALTH NURSES IN NEW YORK STATE. SUCH AWARDS SHALL BE MADE ON
 A COMPETITIVE BASIS AS PROMULGATED BY THE CORPORATION FOR SUCH PURPOSES,
 TO APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. SUCH  RULES  AND  REGU-
 LATIONS SHALL INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF APPLICANTS WHO
 ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.
   2.  ELIGIBILITY. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,
 APPLICANTS SHALL:
   (A) HAVE GRADUATED AND OBTAINED A DEGREE FROM  AN  APPROVED  NEW  YORK
 STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY;
   (B) HAVE AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT LOAN DEBT FROM OBTAINING SUCH DEGREE;
   (C)  BE  EMPLOYED  AS A PROFESSIONAL OR PRACTICAL NURSE, NURSE PRACTI-
 TIONER, OR CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST IN NEW  YORK  STATE  IN  ACCORDANCE
 WITH  SECTIONS SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIVE, SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED
 SIX, SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TEN AND SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED  ELEVEN
 OF THIS CHAPTER;
   (D) APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM WITHIN TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE GRADUATION;
   (E)  COMPLY  WITH  SUBDIVISIONS  THREE AND FIVE OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED
 SIXTY-ONE OF THIS PART;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10859-04-7

              

 A. 8211                             2
 
   (F) MAKE A COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE IN A TRACT OR COUNTY DEFINED BY  THE
 HEALTH  RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AS BEING "RURAL" OR ELIGI-
 BLE FOR A RURAL HEALTH GRANT; AND
   (G)  MAKE  A  COMMITMENT  TO  PRACTICE IN STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS,
 HOSPITAL IN-PATIENT  PSYCHIATRIC  UNITS,  ADDICTION  TREATMENT  CENTERS,
 BEHAVIORAL  HEALTH CLINICS OR A COUNTY RUN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR THE
 DURATION OF THE AWARD.
   3. AWARDS. THE CORPORATION SHALL  GRANT  SUCH  AWARDS  WITHIN  AMOUNTS
 APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH PURPOSES AND BASED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.