BILL NUMBER:  S1637

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
certain tuition waivers for firefighters and fire officer students of
the city university of New York; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof

 PURPOSE :

To allow firefighters and fire officers employed by the New York City
Fire Department to attend two courses without tuition, at a senior
college of the City University System.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of the bill adds a new paragraph (d) to subdivision 7 of
Education Law section 6206 to require the trustees of the City
University of New York ("CUNY") to promulgate regulations that would
afford firefighters employed by the Fire Department of the City of New
York ("FDNY") who are enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate
or higher degree to attend two courses without tuition, provided that
such attendance does not deny course attendance by another person who
is otherwise qualified under section 6206.

Section 2 of the bill provides that this bill shall take effect
immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on July 1, 2020.
              

 EXISTING LAW :

Currently, police officers employed by the New York City Police
Department ("NYPD") who are enrolled in a program leading to a
baccalaureate or higher degree are afforded the opportunity to attend
two tuition-free courses at CUNY. The same opportunity is not afforded
to firefighters employed by FDNY who are enrolled in a program leading
to a baccalaureate or higher degree.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Chapter 548 of the Laws of 2004 amended the Education Law to afford
police officers employed by NYPD who are enrolled in a program leading
to a baccalaureate or higher degree to attend two tuition-free courses
at CUNY. This program was originally set to expire on July 1, 2006. It
has been extended five times and is currently set to expire on July 1,
2018.

Firefighters should be afforded the same opportunity. The rationale
underlying the program for police officers, which is "to provide an
incentive for public safety personnel to pursue education early in
their careers so that the taxpaying citizens would enjoy the greatest
long-term benefit from an educated public safety service" is equally
applicable to firefighters.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2016: S.1473-A - Passed the Senate
2015: S.1473 - Passed the Senate
2014: S.3958-B - Passed the Senate
2013: S.3958-B - Reported to Finance
2012: S.6437 - Referred to Higher Education

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None to the State

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This bill shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed on July 1, 2020.