NY State Senate Bill 2019-S98

Senate Bill S98

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Relates to free tuition for New York state residents serving as volunteer firefighters at certain colleges

download bill text pdf

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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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2020	referred to higher education
Feb 11, 2019	committee discharged and committed to higher education
Jan 09, 2019	referred to education

2019-S98 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2735
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§355, 6206 & 6304, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2015-2016: A9735
2017-2018: S4794, A2917
2021-2022: S389, A6485
2023-2024: A8093
2025-2026: A5824

2019-S98 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Makes tuition free for New York state residents serving as volunteer firefighters at SUNY and CUNY schools and community colleges.

2019-S98 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S98

SPONSOR: KAMINSKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
providing free SUNY, CUNY and community college tuition to volunteer
firefighters

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To provide students that are volunteer firefighters with the compen-
sation of free tuition for the necessary and lifesaving service they
provide to the State of New York.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Amends Paragraph H of Subdivision 2 of Section 355 of the education law
to allow the trustees to implement a program to permit any student who
has been admitted to a state university in New York to attend without
the payment of tuition and fees if such student serves as an active
volunteer firefighter. This student will be required to serve as an
active volunteer firefighter until the completion of his or her academic

program while also maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

With the rising costs of attending college in the State of New York, our
students that are providing a crucial and lifesaving service to the
state deserve to be compensated for the time they give to protecting the
people and communities of New York. This large time commitment made by
these students is well deserving of financial compensation to be paid to
the SUNY, CUNY or community colleges they are currently enrolled in.

This bill would serve as an incentive to the students of New York State
to give back to the community by volunteering for this program.  This
legislation will provide the state with a cheaper and equally as effec-
tive firefighting staff.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.4794- 2017/2018

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Free tuition for select students at SUNY, CUNY, and community colleges
in New York State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
On the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.

2019-S98 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    98
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 9, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. KAMINSKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing  free  SUNY,
   CUNY and community college tuition to volunteer firefighters

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of  the  educa-
 tion law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 1-a to read as follows:
   (1-A) THE TRUSTEES SHALL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PERMIT ANY STUDENT WHO
 HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO A STATE-OPERATED INSTITUTION OF THE STATE UNIVERSI-
 TY  TO  ATTEND  WITHOUT  THE PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES IF SUCH STUDENT
 SERVES AS AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION  ONE
 OF  SECTION  TWO  HUNDRED  FIFTEEN  OF  THE  GENERAL  MUNICIPAL LAW. THE
 PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL ONLY APPLY TO COSTS OF ONE  UNDER-
 GRADUATE  DEGREE  AND ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MORE THAN ONE
 SIMULTANEOUS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE SHALL NOT BE COVERED BY THIS PROGRAM.
   (I) THE TRUSTEES SHALL PROVIDE AN APPLICATION PROCESS  AND  ADMINISTER
 THE PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
   (A)  ANY  STUDENT  ELIGIBLE FOR RESIDENT TUITION RATES IS ELIGIBLE FOR
 THIS PROGRAM.
   (B) THE STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO  SERVE  AS  AN  ACTIVE  VOLUNTEER
 FIREFIGHTER THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF HIS OR HER ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
   (C) STUDENTS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THEIR DEGREE PROGRAM WITHIN
 A  MINIMUM  PERIOD  OF  TIME TO BE SET BY THE TRUSTEES WHICH SHALL BE NO
 FEWER THAN THREE YEARS AND NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.
   (D) THE STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT
 AVERAGE (G.P.A.)  OF AT LEAST 2.5 IN ORDER TO REMAIN  ELIGIBLE  FOR  THE
 PROGRAM.
   (II)  IF  A  STUDENT  OR  FORMER  STUDENT  FAILS TO FULFILL ANY OF THE
 REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN CLAUSE (I) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, THE  TRUSTEES
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03418-01-9

 S. 98                               2
 
 SHALL  CONVERT  TO  A  STUDENT LOAN THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE TUITION WHICH
 WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID BY SUCH STUDENT, AS  DETERMINED  BY  THE  NEW  YORK
 STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, PLUS INTEREST, ACCORDING TO
 A SCHEDULE TO BE DETERMINED BY SUCH CORPORATION. SUCH REPAYMENT MAY ALSO
 BE  REQUIRED IF A RECIPIENT FAILS TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION
 NECESSARY TO DETERMINE CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY OR  FOR  ADMINISTRATION  OF
 THE PROGRAM.
   (III)  ANY STUDENT WHO ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER THIS
 SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM
 FUNDING.  FUNDS  AWARDED  ON  THE  TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM SHALL BE
 APPLIED TOWARDS THE COST OF TUITION PRIOR TO AN AWARD UNDER THIS SUBPAR-
 AGRAPH.
   (IV) STUDENTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER COSTS INCLUDING HOUS-
 ING, FEES AND OTHER NON-TUITION RELATED CHARGES.
   § 2. Subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law is amended  by
 adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
   (E)  THE  TRUSTEES SHALL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PERMIT ANY STUDENT WHO
 HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO AN INSTITUTION OPERATED BY THE CITY  UNIVERSITY  TO
 ATTEND  WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES IF SUCH STUDENT FULFILLS
 THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH PROGRAM PURSUANT  TO  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
 PARAGRAPH.
   (I)  THE  TRUSTEES SHALL PROVIDE AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND ADMINISTER
 THE PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
   (A) ANY STUDENT ELIGIBLE FOR RESIDENT TUITION RATES  IS  ELIGIBLE  FOR
 THIS PROGRAM.
   (B)  THE  STUDENT  SHALL  BE  REQUIRED TO SERVE AS AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER
 FIREFIGHTER THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF HIS OR HER ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
   (C) STUDENTS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THEIR DEGREE PROGRAM WITHIN
 A MINIMUM PERIOD OF TIME TO BE SET BY THE TRUSTEES  WHICH  SHALL  BE  NO
 FEWER THAN THREE YEARS AND NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.
   (D) THE STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT
 AVERAGE  (G.P.A.)    OF AT LEAST 2.5 IN ORDER TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR THE
 PROGRAM.
   (II) IF A STUDENT OR FORMER  STUDENT  FAILS  TO  FULFILL  ANY  OF  THE
 REQUIREMENTS  SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE TRUS-
 TEES SHALL CONVERT TO A STUDENT LOAN THE  FULL  AMOUNT  OF  THE  TUITION
 WHICH  WOULD  HAVE  BEEN  PAID BY SUCH STUDENT, AS DETERMINED BY THE NEW
 YORK STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, PLUS INTEREST, ACCORD-
 ING TO A SCHEDULE TO BE DETERMINED BY SUCH CORPORATION.  SUCH  REPAYMENT
 MAY  ALSO  BE  REQUIRED  IF A RECIPIENT FAILS TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR
 INFORMATION NECESSARY TO DETERMINE CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY OR FOR ADMINIS-
 TRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
   (III) ANY STUDENT WHO ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER  THIS
 PARAGRAPH  SHALL  BE  REQUIRED  TO  APPLY FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 FUNDING. FUNDS AWARDED  ON  THE  TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE
 APPLIED TOWARDS THE COST OF TUITION PRIOR TO AN AWARD UNDER THIS SUBPAR-
 AGRAPH.
   (IV) STUDENTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER COSTS INCLUDING HOUS-
 ING, FEES AND OTHER NON-TUITION RELATED CHARGES.
   §  3. Subdivision 1 of section 6304 of the education law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph e to read as follows:
   E. THE TRUSTEES, SPONSORS OR  OTHER  GOVERNING  BODY  OF  A  COMMUNITY
 COLLEGE  SHALL  IMPLEMENT  A  PROGRAM TO PERMIT ANY STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN
 ADMITTED TO SUCH COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO  ATTEND  WITHOUT  THE  PAYMENT  OF
 TUITION  AND  FEES  IF  SUCH  STUDENT  FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH
 PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH.

 S. 98                               3
 
   (I) THE TRUSTEES SHALL PROVIDE AN APPLICATION PROCESS  AND  ADMINISTER
 THE PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
   (A)  ANY  STUDENT  ELIGIBLE FOR RESIDENT TUITION RATES IS ELIGIBLE FOR
 THIS PROGRAM.
   (B) THE STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO  SERVE  AS  AN  ACTIVE  VOLUNTEER
 FIREFIGHTER THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF HIS OR HER ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
   (C) STUDENTS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THEIR DEGREE PROGRAM WITHIN
 A  MINIMUM  PERIOD  OF  TIME TO BE SET BY THE TRUSTEES WHICH SHALL BE NO
 FEWER THAN THREE YEARS AND NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.
   (D) THE STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT
 AVERAGE (G.P.A.) OF AT LEAST 2.5 IN ORDER TO  REMAIN  ELIGIBLE  FOR  THE
 PROGRAM.
   (II)  IF  A  STUDENT  OR  FORMER  STUDENT  FAILS TO FULFILL ANY OF THE
 REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE  TRUS-
 TEES  SHALL  CONVERT  TO  A  STUDENT LOAN THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE TUITION
 WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID BY SUCH STUDENT, AS  DETERMINED  BY  THE  NEW
 YORK STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, PLUS INTEREST, ACCORD-
 ING  TO  A SCHEDULE TO BE DETERMINED BY SUCH CORPORATION. SUCH REPAYMENT
 MAY ALSO BE REQUIRED IF A RECIPIENT FAILS TO  RESPOND  TO  REQUESTS  FOR
 INFORMATION NECESSARY TO DETERMINE CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY OR FOR ADMINIS-
 TRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
   (III)  ANY STUDENT WHO ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER THIS
 PARAGRAPH SHALL BE REQUIRED TO  APPLY  FOR  TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM
 FUNDING.  FUNDS  AWARDED  ON  THE  TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM SHALL BE
 APPLIED TOWARDS THE COST OF TUITION PRIOR TO AN AWARD UNDER THIS SUBPAR-
 AGRAPH.
   (IV) STUDENTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER COSTS INCLUDING HOUS-
 ING, FEES AND OTHER NON-TUITION RELATED CHARGES.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

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