S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2341
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 25, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. GUNTHER, JACOBSON, SIMON, EPSTEIN -- read once
   and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 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;
   (III) PROVIDE A FOCUS ON:
   (A) ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04728-01-3
              

 A. 2341                             2
 
   (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.