NY State Senate Bill 2025-S4884

Current 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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 13, 2025	referred to higher education

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §669-i, Ed L

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes an emergency aid grant matching program to provide matching funds to campuses of the state university of New York and the city university of New York for the provision of emergency aid grants to eligible students.

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4884

SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing an emer-
gency aid grant matching program

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To match emergency aid grants provided by SUNY and CUNY campuses

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the education law by adding a new section 669-i which
does the following:

-Requires that the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) estab-
lish an emergency aid grant matching program to match grants provided to
students at SUNY or CUNY; students may be eligible for such grants if
they require financial assistance to cover things such as groceries,
clothing, housing, transportation, child care, medical expenses, etc.

following an unexpected or unforeseen emergency;

-Sets a maximum matching grant amount of $1,250 per student and $62,500
per IHE, allowing these institutions to still access up to a maximum
matching grants under the program if their own grant to an eligible
student exceeds $1,250;

-Stipulates that campuses may create a new emergency grant program
before applying for matching grants or utilize an existing emergency
grant program, so long as it meets HESC requirements;

-Allows SUNY and CUNY campuses to set any additional eligibility
requirements for students receiving these grants, so long as they do not
conflict with HESC requirements;

-Requires HESC to establish any requirements it deems necessary for
campuses to access matching funds, as long as emergency aid grants are
not used to reimburse tuition or fees and are not treated as income for
calculating financial aid or expected student and/or family contrib-
utions; campuses must also demonstrate, to the satisfaction of HESC,
that they are providing additional resources and support to students
experiencing financial distress as the result of an emergency;

-Requires campuses participating in the matching program to annually
submit to HESC relevant data and for HESC to compile this information
and publish an annual report related to emergency aid grants.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Many college students find themselves faced with emergency situations
that require them to choose between affording groceries, rent, health-
care, childcare or their education. This program would support students
facing these difficult choices by helping to cover these critical
expenses, allowing students to stay on track with their degree.

Georgia State University's program, one of the first emergency aid grant
programs in the nation in 2016, was so successful that the Georgia
General Assembly passed legislation to establish the statewide Georgia
College Completion Grant. Meanwhile, a pilot program at six SUNY campus-
es in 2018 provided up to $2,000 per student for necessary expenses
after an emergency. A report on this pilot program found that, of the
students who received these grants, approximately 1800 students or 94
percent of all program participants were either still enrolled or
completed their degree in the semester after their emergency. Addi-
tionally, 80 percent of recipients said that the program made them more
aware of other resources available to support students through such a
situation and 90 percent felt more confident advocating for themselves
and felt a "greater sense of belonging" on campus. The report further
found that campuses gained greater knowledge of the various challenges
facing students trying to juggle their degree with making ends meet and
offered more supports for these students as the pilot program
progressed.

CUNY was also able to establish a small emergency aid program with funds
from the U.S. Department of Education during the pandemic to support
students facing emergency situations, but that funding has since lapsed,
leaving it to individual campuses to establish and maintain their own
programs to support their students in crisis.  After the conclusion of
the 2018 SUNY pilot program, the responsibility also fell on individual
campuses to continue this critical initiative.

While some campuses at both SUNY and CUNY have done this successfully,
the funding is often inconsistent and insufficient to support the level
of student need. This bill would ensure that existing campus programs
are able to support their students in covering the full extent of an
emergency situation and to support additional students in need. It would
also help provide a strong financial incentive for the creation of new
emergency aid grant programs at campuses statewide.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to the academic
year next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4884
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 13, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- 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 an emer-
   gency aid grant matching 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. EMERGENCY AID GRANT MATCHING PROGRAM. 1. DEFINITIONS. AS USED
 IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "EMERGENCY AID GRANT" SHALL MEAN A GRANT  PROVIDED  TO  A  STUDENT
 ATTENDING  AN  INSTITUTION  OF  HIGHER  EDUCATION  IN NEW YORK STATE AND
 DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH GRANT BY SUCH INSTITUTION, WHO DUE TO
 UNEXPECTED  OR  UNFORESEEN  EVENTS  REQUIRES  FINANCIAL  ASSISTANCE  FOR
 EXPENSES WHICH MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, GROCERIES, CLOTHING,
 HOUSING, COURSE MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY, TRANSPORTATION, MEDICAL EXPENSES,
 AND  CHILD  CARE.  AN  EMERGENCY  AID  GRANT  SHALL  NOT  BE USED TO PAY
 OUTSTANDING TUITION OR FEES OR IN THE REPAYMENT OF STUDENT LOANS.
   (B) "EMERGENCY AID GRANT MATCHING  PROGRAM"  SHALL  MEAN  THE  PROGRAM
 ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  CORPORATION  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
 SECTION TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS TO CAMPUSES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF
 NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK FOR THE PROVISION OF  EMER-
 GENCY AID GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.
   (C)  "CAMPUS  EMERGENCY AID GRANT PROGRAM" SHALL MEAN ANY PROGRAM AT A
 CAMPUS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW
 YORK THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY AID GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.
   2. (A) THE CORPORATION, WHEN MONIES  HAVE  BEEN  APPROPRIATED  BY  THE
 LEGISLATURE  OR  ARE  OTHERWISE  AVAILABLE  THEREFOR, SHALL ESTABLISH AN
 EMERGENCY AID GRANT MATCHING  PROGRAM  TO  MATCH  EMERGENCY  AID  GRANTS
 PROVIDED  BY  CAMPUSES  OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITY
 UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08508-01-5

 S. 4884                             2
 
   (B) THE CORPORATION MAY  PROVIDE  MATCHING  GRANTS  OF  UP  TO  TWELVE
 HUNDRED  FIFTY  DOLLARS  PER  STUDENT  AND UP TO SIXTY-TWO THOUSAND FIVE
 HUNDRED DOLLARS IN TOTAL MATCHING GRANTS PER CAMPUS PER  ACADEMIC  YEAR;
 PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, THAT CAMPUSES FUNDING EMERGENCY AID GRANTS AT A RATE
 OF  MORE THAN TWELVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS PER STUDENT MAY BE ELIGI-
 BLE FOR THE MAXIMUM MATCHING GRANT PER STUDENT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
 IN ADDITION TO ELIGIBLE USES FOR AN  EMERGENCY  AID  GRANT  PURSUANT  TO
 PARAGRAPH  (A) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, THE CORPORATION SHALL
 BE AUTHORIZED TO STIPULATE ADDITIONAL ELIGIBLE USES FOR SUCH  GRANT,  AS
 SUCH CORPORATION DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
   (C)  CAMPUSES  MAY  APPLY  FOR  EMERGENCY  AID GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS
 SECTION TO MATCH FUNDS PROVIDED BY  AN  EXISTING  CAMPUS  EMERGENCY  AID
 GRANT  PROGRAM;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  SUCH  CAMPUS  EMERGENCY  AID GRANT
 PROGRAM MEETS OR IS MODIFIED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE
 CORPORATION TO RECEIVE SUCH MATCHING FUNDS, OR AFTER THE CREATION  OF  A
 CAMPUS  EMERGENCY  AID  GRANT PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS ESTAB-
 LISHED BY THE CORPORATION  TO  RECEIVE  SUCH  MATCHING  FUNDS.  CAMPUSES
 APPLYING  FOR GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION MAY ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS
 FOR STUDENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY AID  GRANTS  THROUGH  A
 CAMPUS  EMERGENCY  AID  GRANT  PROGRAM;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT  SUCH
 REQUIREMENTS DO NOT CONFLICT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS  ESTABLISHED  BY  THE
 CORPORATION TO RECEIVE MATCHING FUNDS.
   3.  THE  CORPORATION  SHALL  ESTABLISH  AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE
 EMERGENCY AID GRANT MATCHING PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
 TWO OF THIS SECTION AND MAY ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS, AS SUCH  CORPORATION
 DEEMS NECESSARY FOR CAMPUSES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE
 CITY  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW YORK TO ACCESS MATCHING FUNDS PURSUANT TO SUCH
 EMERGENCY AID GRANT MATCHING PROGRAM; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT:
   (A) EMERGENCY AID GRANTS SHALL NOT BE USED TO REIMBURSE ANY  OUTSTAND-
 ING TUITION OR FEES OWED TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR THE CITY
 UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK;
   (B)  EMERGENCY  AID  GRANTS  SHALL  NOT  BE  TREATED AS INCOME FOR THE
 PURPOSES OF CALCULATING FINANCIAL AID OFFERS OR AWARDS OR WHEN DETERMIN-
 ING ANY EXPECTED STUDENT AND/OR FAMILY CONTRIBUTION; AND
   (C) CAMPUSES DEMONSTRATE, TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE CORPORATION, THAT
 IN ADDITION TO OR AS  A  COMPONENT  OF  A  CAMPUS  EMERGENCY  AID  GRANT
 PROGRAM,  SUCH CAMPUS HAS SUFFICIENT RESOURCES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO
 SUPPORT STUDENTS EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL DISTRESS AS A  RESULT  OF  UNEX-
 PECTED OR UNFORESEEN EVENTS.
   4.  (A)  EACH  CAMPUS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITY
 UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK RECEIVING MATCHING FUNDS PURSUANT TO THE EMERGEN-
 CY AID GRANT MATCHING PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF
 THIS SECTION SHALL COMPILE AND SUBMIT AN ANNUAL  REPORT  TO  THE  CORPO-
 RATION WHICH SHALL INCLUDE:
   (I)  THE  NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING FUNDS THROUGH SUCH CAMPUS EMER-
 GENCY AID GRANT PROGRAM;
   (II) THE AVERAGE DOLLAR AMOUNT PROVIDED TO EACH  STUDENT  PURSUANT  TO
 SUCH EMERGENCY AID GRANT MATCHING PROGRAM; AND
   (III)  THE  PERCENTAGE  OF  STUDENTS  WHO RECEIVED EMERGENCY AID FUNDS
 DURING THE PREVIOUS  ACADEMIC  YEAR  AND  ARE  STILL  ENROLLED  OR  HAVE
 SUCCESSFULLY  COMPLETED  SUCH  STUDENTS'  DEGREE  PROGRAM  AT  THE STATE
 UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.
   (B) NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS  AFTER  THE  CORPORATION  RECEIVES  SUCH
 INFORMATION  FROM  PARTICIPATING  CAMPUSES AS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO PARA-
 GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE CORPORATION SHALL COMPILE SUCH INFOR-
 S. 4884                             3

 MATION AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH CORPORATION DEEMS NECESSARY AND
 PUBLISH AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CORPORATION'S WEBSITE.
   §  2.  This  act  shall take effect immediately and shall apply to the
 academic year next succeeding the date on which it shall have  become  a
 law.

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Senate Bill S4884

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S4884

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Sponsored By

Andrew Gounardes

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4884 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments