S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5318
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 12, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. KOON, PHEFFER, LAVINE, BENJAMIN, MILLMAN, JAFFEE,
EDDINGTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BING, BOYLAND, BRENNAN,
CAHILL, CALHOUN, ERRIGO, GUNTHER, LATIMER, MAGEE, MAISEL, McENENY,
MOLINARO, J. RIVERA, N. RIVERA, ROBINSON, SWEENEY, TITONE, WALKER,
WEISENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on Libraries and
Education Technology
AN ACT to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation
to establishing a librarian loan forgiveness program for public and
school librarians who work in both high need school districts and
shortage areas as determined by the commissioner of education
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 275-a
to read as follows:
S 275-A. LIBRARIAN LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
ESTABLISH A LIBRARIAN LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO NEW YORK RESIDENTS WHO ARE RECENT GRADUATES OF ACCREDITED
SCHOOLS OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE WHO AGREE TO WORK FOR A MINI-
MUM OF TWO YEARS IN A PUBLIC OR SCHOOL LIBRARY LOCATED IN A HIGH NEED
SCHOOL DISTRICT OR SHORTAGE AREA AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
1. THE LIBRARIAN LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE TWENTY AWARDS
EACH YEAR TO RECENT GRADUATES OF ACCREDITED SCHOOLS OF LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCE.
2. EACH AWARD SHALL CONSIST OF TWO CONSECUTIVE ANNUAL LOAN FORGIVENESS
PAYMENTS. EACH OF THE PAYMENTS SHALL EQUAL AN AMOUNT OF HALF OF THE
TOTAL OUTSTANDING GRADUATE SCHOOL LOAN EXPENSE OR FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS,
WHICHEVER IS LESS. TOTAL PAYMENTS PER AWARD RECIPIENT SHALL NOT EXCEED
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
3. AT THE END OF EACH YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE QUALIFYING PUBLIC OR
SCHOOL LIBRARY, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SEND THE REQUIRED LOAN FORGIVENESS
AWARD TO THE RECIPIENT.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02472-01-9
A. 5318 2
4. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ALLOCATE TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE
CULTURAL EDUCATION ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-SEV-
EN-ZZZ OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW TO FUND THE LIBRARIAN LOAN FORGIVENESS
PROGRAM.
S 2. Subdivision 3 of section 97-zzz of the state finance law, as
amended by section 1 of part Q of chapter 57 of the laws of 2005, is
amended to read as follows:
3. Moneys of this account, following appropriation by the legislature,
shall be available to support the following agencies and programs: (a)
the state education department for services and expenses of the cultural
education program including operating expenses and capital projects and
the New York state summer school of the arts subject to a plan approved
by the commissioner of education and the director of the budget; (b) the
New York state theatre institute subject to a plan approved by the
director of the budget; [and] (c) the Nelson A. Rockefeller performing
arts center corporation subject to a plan approved by the director of
the budget; AND (D) A LIBRARIAN LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM ESTABLISHED
PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE-A OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.