S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  5240

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 11, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. ESPAILLAT, PERALTA, ROBINSON -- Multi-Sponsored
  by -- M. of A. ALFANO, BARRA, BOYLAND, DIAZ,  HOOPER,  PERRY  --  read
  once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing enrollment
  grants  to  increase the participation and retention in medical educa-
  tion programs of New York state  residents  from  groups  historically
  underrepresented and making an appropriation therefor

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative findings and purpose.  The  legislature  hereby
finds and declares that individuals from certain minority groups, prima-
rily  Blacks,  Hispanics  and  Native  Americans, have been historically
underrepresented in medical education programs and, as a consequence, in
the medical profession. A vast human resource remains  largely  untapped
at  a  time  when medical services in urban areas are inadequate and the
urban poor continue to be underserved.
  The medical schools of the state have not been successful in  attract-
ing  the  available qualified minority candidates, and in some instances
have fallen below national averages and comparable states in  enrollment
of  minorities.  Medical  schools  have  repeatedly  cited  the  lack of
adequate resources as being  a  major  obstacle  in  their  attempts  to
attract and retain larger numbers of qualified minority students.
  The  legislature therefore declares that a modified program of capita-
tion assistance is needed for the purpose of expanding opportunities  to
underrepresented  minority  students to participate in medical education
programs leading to licensure and a career in the medical profession.
  S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6402-a    to
read as follows:
  S  6402-A.  MINORITY  ENROLLMENT  GRANTS  TO  MEDICAL  SCHOOLS. 1. THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL ANNUALLY APPORTION TO EACH NON-PUBLIC INSTITUTION  OF
HIGHER  EDUCATION OFFERING AN APPROVED PROGRAM IN MEDICINE AN ADDITIONAL

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07779-01-9
              

A. 5240                             2

ENROLLMENT GRANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL  OPPORTUNITIES
FOR MINORITY STUDENTS, WHICH FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION SHALL MEAN
STATE  RESIDENTS WHO ARE BLACK, HISPANIC OR NATIVE AMERICAN, IN A SUM TO
BE DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS:
  (A)  ONE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  SHALL  BE  APPORTIONED FOR EACH FULL-TIME
MINORITY STUDENT ENROLLED, PROVIDED THAT NOT LESS THAN EIGHT PERCENT  OF
THE STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE INSTITUTION ARE MINORITY STUDENTS. AN ADDI-
TIONAL  ONE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS SHALL BE APPORTIONED FOR EACH FOURTH-YEAR
MINORITY STUDENT.
  (B) TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS  SHALL  BE  APPORTIONED  FOR  EACH  FULL-TIME
MINORITY STUDENT ENROLLED, PROVIDED THAT NOT LESS THAN TWELVE PERCENT OF
THE STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE INSTITUTION ARE MINORITY STUDENTS. AN ADDI-
TIONAL  TWO  THOUSAND  DOLLARS SHALL BE APPORTIONED FOR EACH FOURTH-YEAR
MINORITY STUDENT.
  (C) FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS SHALL  BE  APPORTIONED  FOR  EACH  FULL-TIME
STUDENT  ENROLLED,  PROVIDED  THAT  NOT LESS THAN SIXTEEN PERCENT OF THE
STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE INSTITUTION ARE  MINORITY  STUDENTS.  AN  ADDI-
TIONAL  FOUR  THOUSAND DOLLARS SHALL BE APPORTIONED FOR EACH FOURTH-YEAR
MINORITY STUDENT.
  2. INSTITUTIONS WHICH RECEIVE GRANTS PURSUANT TO  THIS  SECTION  SHALL
SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER SUCH REPORTS OR DOCUMENTS IN SUCH FORM AND AT
SUCH  TIME  AS HE OR SHE MAY REQUIRE BY REGULATION IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT
THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. THE COMMISSIONER PERIODICALLY SHALL REVIEW
THE INSTITUTIONS WHICH RECEIVE STATE FUNDS PURSUANT TO THIS  SECTION  TO
EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSTITUTIONS' MINORITY RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION PROGRAMS.
  3. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO ACCOMPLISH
THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.
  4.  FUNDS  APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE PAID
IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PAYMENT SCHEDULE TO BE ESTABLISHED BY  THE  COMMIS-
SIONER AND APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET.
  S  3.  The sum of two hundred fifty-eight thousand dollars ($258,000),
or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby  appropriated  to  the
education  department  out  of  any  moneys in the state treasury in the
general fund to the credit of the local assistance account,  not  other-
wise  appropriated, for the payment of capitation grants to increase the
participation and retention of minority students  in  medical  education
programs.    Such  sum  shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the
state comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the  commissioner
of education, in the manner prescribed by law.
  S  4. This act shall take effect on the first of October next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.