NY State Senate Bill 2021-S5635

Senate Bill S5635

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Provides free SUNY and CUNY tuition, books, and fees to all New York state and New York city employees

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 05, 2022	referred to higher education
Mar 15, 2021	referred to higher education

2021-S5635 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§355 & 6206, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S6002
2023-2024: S7330

2021-S5635 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides free SUNY and CUNY tuition, books, and fees to all current New York state and New York city employees who have been such employees for at least two years, and who continue such employment throughout their academic program.

2021-S5635 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S5635

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing free SUNY
and CUNY tuition to all New York state and New York city employees

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

an act to amend the education law, in relation to providing free SUNY
and CUNY tuition, including books and fees to all New York State and New
York City employees

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education
law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 1-a

Section 2. Subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law is amended
by adding a new paragraph (f)

Section 3. Effective date

 
JUSTIFICATION:

"Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the
world" Nelson Mandela Current employees of New York State and New York
City are diligently working hard and have invested years of their lives
in assisting the citizens of this great empire state. Why not grant them
with a proper education in order to help them change their world.

Oftentimes, one may want to advance their career but cannot afford to
continue or even attend college. Although there are other means for one
to attend college "tuition free", they may just fall short of income
guidelines. Or perhaps on has depleted their allotment of monies granted
through the Tuition Assistance Program.

This bill would allow for people employed by NYS and NYC to apply and
attend a SUNY/CUNY university without these obstacles, and allow for
them to bring that knowledge back to their prospective state or city
agency.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: S.6002: Referred to Higher Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

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

2021-S5635 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5635
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 15, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- 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  providing  free  SUNY
   and CUNY tuition to all New York state and New York city employees
 
   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, BOOKS, AND FEES IF SUCH
 STUDENT IS A CURRENT EMPLOYEE, AND HAS BEEN FOR AT LEAST TWO  YEARS,  OF
 THE  STATE  OF  NEW YORK OR THE CITY OF NEW YORK. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL ONLY APPLY TO COSTS OF ONE UNDERGRADUATE AND/OR GRAD-
 UATE DEGREE AND ANY ADDITIONAL  COSTS  ASSOCIATED  WITH  MORE  THAN  ONE
 SIMULTANEOUS  UNDERGRADUATE  OR  GRADUATE 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 BE  A  CURRENT  EMPLOYEE  OF  THE
 STATE  OR  THE  CITY  OF NEW YORK FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS PRIOR TO MAKING
 SUCH APPLICATION AND 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD10192-01-1

 S. 5635                             2
 
   (II)  IF  A  STUDENT  OR  FORMER  STUDENT  FAILS TO FULFILL ANY OF THE
 REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN CLAUSE (I) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, THE  TRUSTEES
 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 (f) to read as follows:
   (F)  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, BOOKS, 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 BE A CURRENT EMPLOYEE OF THE
 STATE OF NEW YORK OR THE CITY OF NEW YORK FOR AT LEAST TWO  YEARS  PRIOR
 TO  MAKING  SUCH  APPLICATION  AND  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.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

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