S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                   8484
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 7, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COONEY -- 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  establishing  the
   Charles  L.  Reason  fellowship  for the purpose of increasing faculty
   diversity in higher education in New York
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Article 130 of title 7 of the education law is renumbered
 article 129-C and a new section 6457 is added to read as follows:
   § 6457. CHARLES L. REASON FELLOWSHIP. 1. GENERAL  REQUIREMENTS.    THE
 COMMISSIONER  SHALL  AWARD GRANTS TO DEGREE-GRANTING INSTITUTIONS IN NEW
 YORK OR TO CONSORTIA OF SUCH INSTITUTIONS TO BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE  OF
 INCREASING  ACCESS  BY  MINORITY  OR  DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS TO ACADEMIC
 PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND THAT  PREPARE
 STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY GROUPS TO EARN TERMINAL ACADEMIC
 DEGREES  AND  BECOME  HIGHER  EDUCATION  FACULTY  MEMBERS.  STUDENTS WHO
 COMPLETE THE  UNDERGRADUATE  FELLOWSHIP  AND  ENROLL  IN  A  PROGRAM  AS
 DESCRIBED  IN  SUBDIVISION  THREE  OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR
 LOAN FORGIVENESS PAYMENTS TO FURTHER ASSIST  THEIR  CAREERS  AS  FACULTY
 MEMBERS.
   2.  CHARLES  L.  REASON  FELLOWSHIP.  (A) (I) UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
 MONEYS  MAY  BE  USED  FOR  TUTORING,  COUNSELING,  FACULTY   MENTORSHIP
 EXPENSES,  SUPPLEMENTAL  FINANCIAL  ASSISTANCE,  PROGRAM  ADMINISTRATION
 INCLUDING STAFF, SUMMER RESEARCH OR SIMILAR ACADEMIC  OPPORTUNITIES  FOR
 PARTICIPATING FELLOWS, STUDENT TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR ACADEMIC CONFERENCES,
 AND  OTHER ACTIVITIES WHICH THE COMMISSIONER MAY DEEM APPROPRIATE. TO BE
 ELIGIBLE  FOR  CHARLES  L.    REASON  UNDERGRADUATE  FELLOWSHIP  PROGRAM
 SUPPORT,  A STUDENT MUST BE A RESIDENT OF NEW YORK, OR MEET THE REQUIRE-
 MENTS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, AND MUST BE FROM A MINORI-
 TY GROUP HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN ACADEMIC FACULTY IN NEW  YORK,
 AND  MUST  DEMONSTRATE  INTEREST IN AND A POTENTIAL TO ATTAIN A PH.D. OR
 OTHER TERMINAL ACADEMIC DEGREE AND TEACH  AT  THE  COLLEGIATE  LEVEL  IF
 PROVIDED  SPECIAL  SERVICES.  ELIGIBLE STUDENTS MUST BE IN GOOD ACADEMIC
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14631-03-2
              

 S. 8484                             2
 
 STANDING, ENROLLED FULL TIME IN AN APPROVED, UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL PROGRAM
 OF STUDY, AS DEFINED BY THE REGENTS.
   (II)  AN  APPLICANT WHO IS NOT A LEGAL RESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE, BUT
 WHO IS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN, A PERMANENT LAWFUL RESIDENT, AN INDIVID-
 UAL WHO IS GRANTED U OR T NON-IMMIGRANT STATUS PURSUANT TO  THE  VICTIMS
 OF  TRAFFICKING  AND  VIOLENCE  PROTECTION ACT OF 2000, A PERSON GRANTED
 TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL  IMMIGRATION  ACT  OF
 1990,  AN  INDIVIDUAL  OF  A  CLASS  OF REFUGEES PAROLED BY THE ATTORNEY
 GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES UNDER HIS OR HER PAROLE AUTHORITY  PERTAIN-
 ING  TO  THE  ADMISSION  OF ALIENS TO THE UNITED STATES, OR AN APPLICANT
 WITHOUT LAWFUL IMMIGRATION STATUS, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD AT THE
 UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL OF STUDY PROVIDED THAT THE STUDENT:
   (1) ATTENDED A REGISTERED NEW YORK STATE HIGH SCHOOL FOR TWO  OR  MORE
 YEARS,  GRADUATED  FROM  A  REGISTERED  NEW  YORK  STATE HIGH SCHOOL AND
 APPLIED FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER  EDUCATION  FOR  THE
 UNDERGRADUATE  STUDY  FOR  WHICH AN AWARD IS SOUGHT WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF
 RECEIVING A NEW YORK STATE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; OR
   (2) ATTENDED AN APPROVED NEW YORK  STATE  PROGRAM  FOR  A  STATE  HIGH
 SCHOOL  EQUIVALENCY  DIPLOMA,  RECEIVED  A STATE HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY
 DIPLOMA AND APPLIED FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE INSTITUTION OF  HIGHER  EDUCA-
 TION  FOR  THE  UNDERGRADUATE  STUDY FOR WHICH AN AWARD IS SOUGHT WITHIN
 FIVE YEARS OF RECEIVING A STATE HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA; OR
   (3) IS OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF TUITION  AND  FEES  AT  A
 RATE  NO  GREATER  THAN  THAT IMPOSED FOR RESIDENT STUDENTS OF THE STATE
 UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF  NEW  YORK  OR  COMMUNITY
 COLLEGES  AS PRESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH EIGHT OF PARAGRAPH H OF SUBDIVI-
 SION TWO OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE OF THIS  CHAPTER  OR  PARA-
 GRAPH  (A) OF SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF SECTION SIXTY-TWO HUNDRED SIX OF THIS
 TITLE. PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT  A  STUDENT  WITHOUT  LAWFUL  IMMIGRATION
 STATUS SHALL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT WITH SUCH INSTITUTION
 OF HIGHER EDUCATION STATING THAT THE STUDENT HAS FILED AN APPLICATION TO
 LEGALIZE HIS OR HER IMMIGRATION STATUS, OR WILL FILE SUCH AN APPLICATION
 AS SOON AS HE OR SHE IS ELIGIBLE TO DO SO; AND
   (4)  HAS  COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AT A
 COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CHARTERED BY THE REGENTS WITHIN THE STATE  OF  NEW
 YORK AND REMAINS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THAT INSTITUTION.
   (B)  APPLICATIONS  FOR  FUNDING  SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY ELIGIBLE INSTI-
 TUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY
 THE COMMISSIONER. PRIORITY CONSIDERATION SHALL BE GIVEN TO  INSTITUTIONS
 WHICH  DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ENTER POST-BACCA-
 LAUREATE PROGRAMS AT A HIGH LEVEL. GRANTS  SHALL  BE  AWARDED  BASED  ON
 CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   3.  LOAN  FORGIVENESS.  (A) MONEYS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE, SUBJECT TO
 APPROPRIATIONS, FOR PURPOSES OF STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS  IN  ACCORDANCE
 WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION TO STUDENTS WHO:
   (I) SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE UNDERGRADUATE CHARLES L. REASON FELLOW-
 SHIP AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION;
   (II)  HAVE  GRADUATED  FROM  A  BACCALAUREATE  PROGRAM AT A COLLEGE OR
 UNIVERSITY CHARTERED BY THE REGENTS;
   (III) WITHIN FOUR  YEARS  OF  ACHIEVING  THEIR  BACCALAUREATE  DEGREE,
 ENROLLS  IN  A  PH.D. OR SIMILAR TERMINAL ACADEMIC DEGREE PROGRAM REGIS-
 TERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT AT A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY  CHARTERED  BY  THE
 REGENTS  THAT  IS NOT A PROGRAM GRANTING THE CREDENTIAL OF JURIS DOCTOR,
 MEDICAL DOCTOR, OR OTHER DEGREE LEADING  TO  A  LICENSED  PROFESSION  AS
 DESCRIBED IN TITLE EIGHT OF THIS CHAPTER; AND
 S. 8484                             3
 
   (IV)  IS  A RESIDENT OF NEW YORK, OR MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBPARA-
 GRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   (B)  FUNDING AWARDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT EXCEED THE
 TOTAL QUALIFYING OUTSTANDING DEBT OF  A  CHARLES  L.  REASON  FELLOWSHIP
 PARTICIPATING  STUDENT  FROM  STUDENT  LOANS  TO COVER TUITION AND OTHER
 EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES, MADE BY OR GUARANTEED  BY  THE  FEDERAL  OR  STATE
 GOVERNMENT,  OR  MADE  BY  A LENDING OR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION APPROVED
 UNDER TITLE IV OF THE  FEDERAL  HIGHER  EDUCATION  ACT.  LOAN  REPAYMENT
 AWARDS SHALL BE USED SOLELY TO REPAY SUCH DEBT.
   (C)  APPLICATIONS  FOR  LOAN  FORGIVENESS  SHALL  BE  MADE BY ELIGIBLE
 STUDENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER
 AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES  CORPORATION.  GRANTS
 SHALL  BE  AWARDED BASED ON CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND
 THE PRESIDENT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE  BASED  ON  THE
 AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
   (D)  A  STUDENT  RECEIVING FUNDS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE
 ELIGIBLE FOR A LOAN REPAYMENT AWARD TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER
 OVER A FOUR YEAR PERIOD PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT NO STUDENT  SHALL  RECEIVE
 MORE  THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN LOAN FORGIVENESS PAYMENTS PER YEAR OR
 MORE THAN FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN LOAN FORGIVENESS PAYMENTS UNDER THIS
 SUBDIVISION IN THEIR LIFETIME.
   (E) IN THE EVENT THAT A STUDENT NO LONGER MEETS THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR
 LOAN FORGIVENESS AS DEFINED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, ANY SCHEDULED OR FORTH-
 COMING PAYMENTS TO THAT STUDENT WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL THEY CERTIFY  TO
 THE DEPARTMENT, IN A METHOD DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, THAT THEY MEET
 SUCH QUALIFICATIONS.
   4.  REPORTING  REQUIREMENTS. INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE CHARLES
 L. REASON FELLOWSHIP SHALL SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER  SUCH  REPORTS  OR
 OTHER  INFORMATION  AS  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE. THE COMMISSIONER
 SHALL PREPARE FOR THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF  THE  SENATE,
 THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE RESPECTIVE MINORITY LEADERS IN BOTH THE
 SENATE  AND  ASSEMBLY,  AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS AN ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
 ACTIVITIES OF INSTITUTIONS WHICH RECEIVE STATE FUNDS  PURSUANT  TO  THIS
 SECTION  CONCERNING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO,  THE  EFFECTIVENESS  OF THE
 PROGRAMS, THE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS SERVED, AND FUTURE PLANS.
   5. RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE RULES  AND
 REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.