NY State Senate Bill 2017-S7377

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 09, 2018	print number 7377a
May 09, 2018	amend (t) and recommit to higher education
Jan 10, 2018	referred to higher education

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2017-S7377 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §679-j, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S1200
2021-2022: S1154

2017-S7377 - Summary

Relates to creating the New York state rural doctors and nurses loan forgiveness program.

2017-S7377 - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7377

SPONSOR: RITCHIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to creating the New York
state rural doctors and nurses loan forgiveness incentive program

 
PURPOSE:

To attract full-time doctors and nurses to rural areas of New York
through a loan forgiveness incentive program.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends education law by adding a new section establishing a
loan forgiveness program under the New York State Higher Education
Services Corporation for doctors and nurses who work full-time in rural
areas as defined by the health resources and services administration.
This section establishes eligibility criteria for the program including
a degree from an approved New York state college or university, and

gives the corporation authority to grant awards and implement rules and
regulations for the program.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Much of New York State is comprised of rural communities. Many of these
communities are vulnerable low-income communities who have little access
to healthcare services. This is due in large part to the lack of doctors
and nurses who work full-time in these communities. According to the New
York State Department of Health, 46% of Health Professional Shortage
Areas fall in rural counties throughout the state. The Department of
Health also observes that as the average age of practicing physicians in
the state has increased to 52 years old, physicians practicing in rural
counties were 57% more likely to retire than were physicians in urban
counties.

Graduating doctors and nurses are often reluctant to establish them-
selves in rural communities for a multitude of reasons, including large
student loan debts and higher pay in urban and suburban settings, which
allow new doctors and nurses to more easily pay back their debts. This
bill helps new doctors and nurses overcome their debts while simultane-
ously providing vital services for the health and wellbeing of our rural
communities. It does so by providing a loan forgiveness incentive for
new doctors and nurses who graduate from approved New York State
colleges and universities by requiring a commitment to practice in an
underrepresented rural area for the duration of the award.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2017-S7377 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7377
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating the New  York
   state rural doctors and nurses loan forgiveness incentive program
 
   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  RURAL DOCTORS AND NURSES LOAN FORGIVENESS
 INCENTIVE PROGRAM. 1. PURPOSE.  THE PRESIDENT SHALL GRANT  STUDENT  LOAN
 FORGIVENESS  AWARDS  FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTRACTING DOCTORS AND NURSES TO
 BE EMPLOYED IN RURAL AREAS THROUGHOUT NEW  YORK  STATE  ON  A  FULL-TIME
 BASIS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "RURAL" SHALL MEAN A TRACT OR COUN-
 TY  DEFINED BY THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AS BEING
 RURAL OR ELIGIBLE FOR A RURAL HEALTH GRANT.  SUCH AWARDS SHALL  BE  MADE
 BY  THE  CORPORATION  TO  APPLICANTS  WHO  MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
 PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   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 DOCTOR OF MEDICINE, DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHY, PROFES-
 SIONAL  OR  PRACTICAL  NURSE,  NURSE  PRACTITIONER,  OR  CLINICAL  NURSE
 SPECIALIST  IN  NEW  YORK  STATE  IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTIONS SIXTY-FIVE
 HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR, SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED FIVE,  SIXTY-NINE  HUNDRED  SIX,
 SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED TEN AND SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER;
   (D)  APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM WITHIN TWO YEARS OF RECEIVING SUCH PROFES-
 SIONAL LICENSE;
   (E) COMPLY WITH SUBDIVISIONS THREE AND FIVE  OF  SECTION  SIX  HUNDRED
 SIXTY-ONE OF THIS PART; AND
   (F)  MAKE A COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE IN A RURAL AREA FOR THE DURATION OF
 THE AWARD.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD13912-02-8

 S. 7377                             2
 
   3. AWARDS. THE CORPORATION SHALL  GRANT  SUCH  AWARDS  WITHIN  AMOUNTS
 APPROPRIATED  FOR  SUCH  PURPOSES  AND  BASED  ON  AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS
 ACCORDING TO A SCHEDULE TO  BE  DETERMINED  BY  THE  CORPORATION,  WHICH
 PROVIDES  FOR  AN  INCREASED  AWARD  AMOUNT  FOR  AN INCREASED LENGTH OF
 EMPLOYMENT IN ELIGIBLE RURAL AREAS.
   4.  RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE
 RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS
 OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §679-j, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S1200
2021-2022: S1154

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to creating the New York state rural doctors and nurses loan forgiveness program.

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7377A

SPONSOR: RITCHIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to creating the New York
state rural doctors and nurses loan forgiveness program

 
PURPOSE:

To attract full-time doctors and nurses to rural areas of New York
through a loan forgiveness incentive program.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends education law by adding a new section establishing a
loan forgiveness program under the New York State Higher Education
Services Corporation for doctors and nurses who work full-time in rural
areas as defined by the health resources and services administration.
This section establishes eligibility criteria for the program including
a degree from an approved New York state college or university, and

gives the corporation authority to grant awards and implement rules and
regulations for the program.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Much of New York State is comprised of rural communities. Many of these
communities are vulnerable low-income communities who have little access
to healthcare services. This is due in large part to the lack of doctors
and nurses who work full-time in these communities. According to the New
York State Department of Health, 46% of Health Professional Shortage
Areas fall in rural counties throughout the state. The Department of
Health also observes that as the average age of practicing physicians in
the state has increased to 52 years old, physicians practicing in rural
counties were 57% more likely to retire than were physicians in urban
counties.

Graduating doctors and nurses are often reluctant to establish them-
selves in rural communities for a multitude of reasons, including large
student loan debts and higher pay in urban and suburban settings, which
allow new doctors and nurses to more easily pay back their debts. This
bill helps new doctors and nurses overcome their debts while simultane-
ously providing vital services for the health and wellbeing of our rural
communities. It does so by providing a loan forgiveness incentive for
new doctors and nurses who graduate from approved New York State
colleges and universities by requiring a commitment to practice in an
underrepresented rural area for the duration of the award.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7377--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed  to  the  Committee  on  Higher  Education  --
   committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
   recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating the New  York
   state rural doctors and nurses loan forgiveness program

   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-k
 to read as follows:
   §  679-K.  NEW  YORK  STATE  RURAL DOCTORS AND NURSES LOAN FORGIVENESS
 PROGRAM. 1. PURPOSE.  THE PRESIDENT SHALL GRANT STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS
 AWARDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTRACTING DOCTORS AND NURSES TO  BE  EMPLOYED
 IN RURAL AREAS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE ON A FULL-TIME BASIS.
   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) BE EMPLOYED AS A DOCTOR OF MEDICINE, DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHY, PROFES-
 SIONAL  OR  PRACTICAL  NURSE,  NURSE  PRACTITIONER,  OR  CLINICAL  NURSE
 SPECIALIST IN NEW YORK STATE  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  SECTIONS  SIXTY-FIVE
 HUNDRED  TWENTY-FOUR,  SIXTY-NINE  HUNDRED FIVE, SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED SIX,
 SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED TEN AND SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER;
   (C) COMPLY WITH SUBDIVISIONS THREE AND FIVE  OF  SECTION  SIX  HUNDRED
 SIXTY-ONE OF THIS PART; AND
   (D)  MAKE A COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE IN A RURAL AREA FOR THE DURATION OF
 THE AWARD.
   3. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS  SECTION,  THE  TERM  "RURAL"
 SHALL  MEAN  A  TRACT  OR  COUNTY  DEFINED  BY  THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND
 SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AS BEING RURAL OR ELIGIBLE FOR  A  RURAL  HEALTH
 GRANT.
   4.  PRIORITY.  SUCH AWARDS SHALL BE MADE ANNUALLY TO APPLICANTS IN THE
 FOLLOWING PRIORITY:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD13912-03-8

 S. 7377--A                          2
 
   (A) FIRST PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN  TO  APPLICANTS  WHO  HAVE  RECEIVED
 PAYMENT OF AN AWARD PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION IN A PRIOR YEAR AND WHO, IN
 THE  YEAR  PRIOR  TO APPLICATION, ARE DOCTORS OR NURSES IN A RURAL AREA;
 AND
   (B) SECOND PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED
 PAYMENT OF AN AWARD PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION IN A PRIOR YEAR AND WHO ARE
 DOCTORS OR NURSES IN A RURAL AREA IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO SUCH APPLICATION.
   5.  AWARDS.  THE CORPORATION SHALL GRANT AWARDS PURSUANT TO THE AMOUNT
 APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE AND BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS  IN  AN
 AMOUNT UP TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EMPLOYED FULL-
 TIME  AS  DOCTORS  OR  NURSES  FOR  THE  YEAR PRIOR TO SUCH APPLICATION,
 PROVIDED THAT NO RECIPIENT SHALL RECEIVE AN AWARD THAT EXCEEDS THE TOTAL
 REMAINING BALANCE OF THE STUDENT LOAN DEBT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,  IN
 EXCESS OF TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
   6.  RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE
 RULES AND REGULATIONS AND MAY PROMULGATE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS NECESSARY
 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.  IN THE  EVENT
 THAT  THERE  ARE MORE APPLICANTS WHO HAVE THE SAME PRIORITY, AS PROVIDED
 IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION, THAN THERE  ARE  REMAINING  AWARDS,
 THE  CORPORATION  SHALL PROVIDE IN REGULATION THE METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING
 THE REMAINING NUMBER OF SUCH AWARDS, WHICH  MAY  INCLUDE  A  LOTTERY  OR
 OTHER FORM OF RANDOM SELECTION.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

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Senate Bill S7377

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Bill Amendments

2017-S7377 - Details

2017-S7377 - Summary

2017-S7377 - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7377 - Bill Text download pdf

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S7377

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Patty Ritchie

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Bill Amendments

2017-S7377 - Details

2017-S7377 - Summary

2017-S7377 - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7377 - Bill Text download pdf

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7377A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments