S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1217
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 9, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. SIMON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK,
   DAVILA, LUPARDO, OTIS, RA, SEAWRIGHT, WALKER -- read once and referred
   to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation  to  creating  the  adult
   student grant program

   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  669-i
 to read as follows:
   §  669-I.  THE  ADULT  STUDENT  GRANT  PROGRAM.  1. PURPOSE. THE ADULT
 STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM IS HEREBY CREATED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID  GRANTS
 TO ADULTS RETURNING TO COLLEGE OR SEEKING CAREER EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
   2.  DEFINITIONS.  A. "GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING" FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
 SECTION MEANS RETAINING A MINIMUM GRADE POINT  AVERAGE  OF  2.5  OR  THE
 EQUIVALENT.
   B.  "PARTICIPATING INSTITUTION" FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION MEANS
 ANY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT IS INCLUDED IN  THE  UNIVERSITY
 OF  THE  STATE OF NEW YORK AS ENUMERATED IN SECTION TWO HUNDRED FOURTEEN
 OF THIS TITLE.
   C. "COST OF ATTENDANCE" SHALL MEAN TUITION, REQUIRED FEES,  LABORATORY
 AND  OTHER  INSTRUCTION  RELATED TO EXPENSES, BOOKS, TRANSPORTATION, AND
 ROOM AND BOARD.
   3. ELIGIBILITY. THE ADULT STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM SHALL BE AVAILABLE  TO
 THOSE PERSONS:
   A.  WHO  ARE  (I) A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, OR (II) A NONCITIZEN
 LAWFULLY ADMITTED FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES, OR (III)
 AN INDIVIDUAL OF A CLASS OF REFUGEES PAROLED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL  OF
 THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S PAROLE AUTHORITY PERTAIN-
 ING TO THE ADMISSION OF NONCITIZENS TO THE UNITED STATES;
   B. WHO REMAIN IN GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02859-01-5
 A. 1217                             2
              

 
   C.  WHO ATTEND A PARTICIPATING INSTITUTION FOR AT LEAST THREE SEMESTER
 HOURS;
   D.  WHO  ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS UNDER SECTIONS SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-
 SIX, SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN,  OR  SIX  HUNDRED  SIXTY-SEVEN-C  OF  THIS
 SUBPART; AND
   E. WHO HAVE BEEN EITHER A LEGAL RESIDENT OF THE STATE FOR AT LEAST ONE
 YEAR  IMMEDIATELY  PRECEDING  THE  BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER, QUARTER OR
 TERM OF ATTENDANCE FOR WHICH APPLICATION FOR  THE  ADULT  STUDENT  GRANT
 PROGRAM  IS MADE. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE TO
 THE CONTRARY, THE NEW YORK STATE RESIDENCY ELIGIBILITY  REQUIREMENT  FOR
 THIS  PROGRAM  IS  WAIVED  FOR A MEMBER, OR THE SPOUSE OR DEPENDENT OF A
 MEMBER, OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED  STATES  ON  FULL-TIME  ACTIVE
 DUTY AND STATIONED IN THIS STATE.
   4.  GRANTS.  THE ANNUAL ADULT STUDENT GRANTS SHALL BE FOR AN AMOUNT UP
 TO ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS OR THE COST OF  TUITION,  WHICHEVER
 IS  LESS.  IN  NO  EVENT SHALL THE AMOUNT OF THE ANNUAL GRANT EXCEED THE
 RECIPIENT'S COST OF ATTENDANCE AT THE INSTITUTION ATTENDED.  THE  CORPO-
 RATION  SHALL  PROVIDE  SUCH  GRANTS WITHIN THE AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED FOR
 SUCH PURPOSE AND BASED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. A  RECIPIENT  SHALL
 RECEIVE NO MORE THAN SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ADULT STUDENT GRANTS.
   5.  PRIORITY.  PRIORITY  WILL  BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS THAT DEMONSTRATE
 FINANCIAL NEED AS DETERMINED BY THE CORPORATION.
   6. RULES. THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND  REGU-
 LATIONS,  AND  MAY  PROMULGATE  EMERGENCY REGULATIONS, FOR THE NECESSARY
 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.