S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  3032--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 22, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. GUNTHER, JACOBSON, SIMON, EPSTEIN -- read once
   and referred  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 allowing for students
   in postsecondary education experience or transition program to receive
   awards from the tuition assistance program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 602 of the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 5 to read as follows:
   5.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS ALLOWING
 FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AN APPROVED POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION  EXPERIENCE
 OR  TRANSITION  PROGRAM TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE TUITION
 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
   § 2. Section 667 of the education law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 4 to read as follows:
   4.    POSTSECONDARY  EDUCATION  EXPERIENCE OR TRANSITION PROGRAMS.  A.
 NOTWITHSTANDING SUBDIVISIONS ONE, TWO AND THREE  OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE
 PRESIDENT  SHALL  MAKE AWARDS TO STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
 IN APPROVED POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION EXPERIENCE OR TRANSITION PROGRAMS IN
 THE SAME MANNER AS  STUDENTS  ENROLLED  IN  AN  APPROVED  PROGRAM  AT  A
 DEGREE-GRANTING  INSTITUTION INCLUDING THE SAME INCOME LIMITS AND AWARDS
 FOR EACH YEAR.
   B.  AN  APPROVED  POSTSECONDARY  EDUCATION  EXPERIENCE  OR  TRANSITION
 PROGRAM SHALL:
   (I) SERVE STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES;
   (II)  PROVIDE  INDIVIDUAL  SUPPORTS  AND SERVICES FOR THE ACADEMIC AND
 SOCIAL INCLUSION OF STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN  ACADEMIC
 COURSES,  EXTRACURRICULAR  ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE INSTITU-
 TION OF HIGHER EDUCATION'S REGULAR POSTSECONDARY PROGRAM;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD02884-05-1

 A. 3032--A                          2
 
   (III) PROVIDE A FOCUS ON:
   (A) ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT;
   (B) SOCIALIZATION;
   (C) INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, INCLUDING SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS; AND
   (D) INTEGRATED WORK EXPERIENCES AND CAREER SKILLS THAT LEAD TO GAINFUL
 EMPLOYMENT;
   (IV)  INTEGRATE  PERSON-CENTERED  PLANNING  IN  THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
 COURSE OF STUDY FOR EACH STUDENT WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY;
   (V) CREATE AND OFFER A MEANINGFUL CREDENTIAL FOR STUDENTS WITH  INTEL-
 LECTUAL  DISABILITIES UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
 EXPERIENCE OR TRANSITION PROGRAM; AND
   (VI) BE A FEDERALLY APPROVED COMPREHENSIVE TRANSITION  AND  POSTSECON-
 DARY PROGRAM.
   C.  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL
 DISABILITIES" SHALL MEAN A STUDENT WITH AN IMPAIRMENT OF GENERAL  INTEL-
 LECTUAL FUNCTIONING OR ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR WHICH CONSTITUTES A SUBSTANTIAL
 HANDICAP  TO  THE  STUDENT'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION NORMALLY IN SOCIETY AND
 WHICH HAS ORIGINATED AT ANY POINT IN THE STUDENT'S LIFE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.