S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5220
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 12, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. GUNTHER, ABINANTI, STECK, LUPARDO -- Multi-Spon-
   sored by -- M.  of A. THIELE -- 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-k
 to read as follows:
   § 679-K. 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.
                                                            LBD02461-01-1
              

 A. 5220                             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.