S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5863
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 24, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. COLTON -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Higher Education
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the education law, in relation to providing free SUNY,
   CUNY and community college tuition to active  volunteer  firefighters,
   volunteer emergency medical services providers, and volunteer auxilia-
   ry police officers

   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 AND FEES IF SUCH STUDENT
 SERVES AS AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION ONE
 OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL  LAW,  VOLUNTEER
 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER, OR VOLUNTEER AUXILIARY POLICE OFFI-
 CER.  THE  PROVISIONS  OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL ONLY APPLY TO COSTS OF
 ONE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED  WITH  MORE
 THAN  ONE SIMULTANEOUS UNDERGRADUATE 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, PROVIDED THAT AT THE TIME  OF  APPLICATION,  SUCH  STUDENT
 SUBMITS PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP IN GOOD STANDING OF A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
 OR DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER OR A VOLUN-
 TEER AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICER OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE STATE OF
 NEW YORK.
   (B)  THE  STUDENT  SHALL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN STATUS AS A MEMBER IN
 GOOD STANDING OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE  COMPANY  OR  DEPARTMENT,  VOLUNTEER
 EMERGENCY  MEDICAL  SERVICE  PROVIDER OR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH SUCH
 STUDENT SERVES AS AN AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICER THROUGH THE COMPLETION  OF
 SUCH STUDENT'S ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03276-01-5
 A. 5863                             2
 
   (C) 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 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 CLAUSE.
   (IV)  ANY STUDENT WHO ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER  THIS
 SUBPARAGRAPH  AND  IS  OTHERWISE  ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXCELSIOR SCHOLARSHIP
 PROGRAM SHALL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR SAME.  FUNDS AWARDED THROUGH  THE
 EXCELSIOR  SCHOLARSHIP  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE  APPLIED  TOWARDS THE COST OF
 TUITION PRIOR TO AN AWARD UNDER THIS CLAUSE.
   (V) 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 (g) to read as follows:
   (G) 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 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, PROVIDED THAT AT THE TIME  OF  APPLICATION,  SUCH  STUDENT
 SUBMITS PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP IN GOOD STANDING OF A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
 OR DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTEER MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER OR A VOLUNTEER AUXIL-
 IARY POLICE OFFICER OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
   (B)  THE  STUDENT  SHALL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN STATUS AS A MEMBER IN
 GOOD STANDING OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE  COMPANY  OR  DEPARTMENT,  VOLUNTEER
 EMERGENCY  MEDICAL  SERVICE  PROVIDER OR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH SUCH
 STUDENT SERVES AS AN AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICER THROUGH THE COMPLETION  OF
 SUCH STUDENT'S ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
   (C) 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
 A. 5863                             3
 
 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)   ANY STUDENT WHO ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER THIS
 SUBPARAGRAPH AND IS OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE  FOR  THE  EXCELSIOR  SCHOLARSHIP
 PROGRAM  SHALL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR SAME.  FUNDS AWARDED THROUGH THE
 EXCELSIOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SHALL  BE  APPLIED  TOWARDS  THE  COST  OF
 TUITION PRIOR TO AN AWARD UNDER THIS CLAUSE.
   (V)  STUDENTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER COSTS INCLUDING HOUS-
 ING, FEES AND OTHER NON-TUITION RELATED CHARGES.
   § 3. Subdivision 1 of section 6304 of the education law is amended  by
 adding a new paragraph e to read as follows:
   E.  THE  TRUSTEES,  SPONSORS  OR  OTHER  GOVERNING BODY OF A COMMUNITY
 COLLEGE SHALL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PERMIT ANY  STUDENT  WHO  HAS  BEEN
 ADMITTED  TO  SUCH  COMMUNITY  COLLEGE  TO ATTEND WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF
 TUITION 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,  PROVIDED  THAT  AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION, SUCH STUDENT
 SUBMITS PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP IN GOOD STANDING OF A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
 OR DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTEER MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER OR A VOLUNTEER AUXIL-
 IARY POLICE OFFICER OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
   (B) THE STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN STATUS AS  A  MEMBER  IN
 GOOD  STANDING  OF  THE  VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTEER
 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDER OR POLICE DEPARTMENT  IN  WHICH  SUCH
 STUDENT  SERVES AS AN AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICER THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF
 SUCH STUDENT'S ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
   (C) 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)  ANY STUDENT WHO ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER  THIS
 SUBPARAGRAPH  AND  IS  OTHERWISE  ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXCELSIOR SCHOLARSHIP
 PROGRAM SHALL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR SAME.  FUNDS AWARDED THROUGH  THE
 EXCELSIOR  SCHOLARSHIP  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE  APPLIED  TOWARDS THE COST OF
 TUITION PRIOR TO AN AWARD UNDER THIS CLAUSE.
   (V) STUDENTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER COSTS INCLUDING  HOUS-
 ING, FEES AND OTHER NON-TUITION RELATED CHARGES.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.