Assembly Bill A8036

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

                                  8036

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               May 1, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. MILLER, O'MARA, ALFANO, WALKER, DUPREY, FINCH --
  Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.  AMEDORE,  BACALLES,  BARCLAY,  CROUCH,
  ERRIGO,  McDONOUGH,  RAIA,  SCOZZAFAVA, TOBACCO, TOWNSEND -- read once
  and referred to the Committee on Higher Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing  the  New
  York state nuclear engineering degree incentive program; 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. The education law is amended by adding a new section  669-e
to read as follows:
  S  669-E. NEW YORK STATE NUCLEAR ENGINEERING DEGREE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
1. NOTWITHSTANDING SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE  OF
THIS  PART,  UNDERGRADUATE  STUDENTS WHO ARE MATRICULATED IN AN APPROVED
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM AT  DEGREE  GRANTING  INSTITUTIONS  LEADING  TO  A
CAREER  AS  A NUCLEAR ENGINEER SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD UNDER THIS
SECTION, PROVIDED THE APPLICANT COMPLIES WITH THE APPLICABLE  PROVISIONS
OF  THIS ARTICLE AND ALL REQUIREMENTS PROMULGATED BY THE CORPORATION FOR
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
  2. WITHIN AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, AWARDS SHALL BE GRANTED ON  A
COMPETITIVE  BASIS  TO APPLICANTS THAT THE CORPORATION HAS CERTIFIED ARE
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SUCH AWARDS. UP TO TWENTY AWARDS MAY BE MADE TO  NEW
RECIPIENTS  ANNUALLY.  SUCH AWARDS SHALL BE MADE TO RECIPIENTS AFTER THE
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF EACH ACADEMIC YEAR, AS DEFINED  BY  THE  CORPO-
RATION.
  3.  AN  AWARD  SHALL  ENTITLE THE RECIPIENT TO ANNUAL PAYMENTS FOR NOT
MORE THAN FOUR ACADEMIC YEARS OF FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE  STUDY  LEADING
TO CERTIFICATION AS A NUCLEAR ENGINEER.
  4.  RECIPIENTS  SHALL  RECEIVE  AN  ANNUAL  PAYMENT FOR THE SUCCESSFUL
COMPLETION OF AN ACADEMIC YEAR, EQUAL TO THE ANNUAL TUITION  CHARGED  TO
STATE  RESIDENT STUDENTS ATTENDING AN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM FULL-TIME AT

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11519-01-9
              

A. 8036                             2

THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, OR ACTUAL TUITION  CHARGED,  WHICHEVER
IS LESS.
  5.  THE CORPORATION SHALL CONVERT TO A STUDENT LOAN THE FULL AMOUNT OF
THE AWARD GIVEN PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, PLUS INTEREST, ACCORDING TO  A
SCHEDULE  TO BE DETERMINED BY THE CORPORATION IF: (A) IT IS FOUND THAT A
STUDENT, HAVING RECEIVED THE ANNUAL AWARD TRANSFERS TO  AN  OUT-OF-STATE
INSTITUTION  IN  THAT ACADEMIC YEAR OR (B) A RECIPIENT FAILS TO COMPLETE
THEIR DEGREE PROGRAM  OR  CHANGES  MAJORS  TO  AN  UNDERGRADUATE  DEGREE
PROGRAM  OTHER  THAN  NUCLEAR  ENGINEERING;  OR (C) A RECIPIENT FAILS TO
RESPOND TO REQUESTS BY THE CORPORATION FOR THE  STATUS  OF  HIS  OR  HER
ACADEMIC OR PROFESSIONAL PROGRESS.
  6.  THE  CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS
NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  SECTION,
INCLUDING  THE  CRITERIA  FOR  THE  PROVISION OF AWARDS ON A COMPETITIVE
BASIS AND THE RATE OF INTEREST CHARGED  FOR  REPAYMENT  OF  THE  STUDENT
LOAN.
  S  2.  Section  605  of  the  education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 11-a to read as follows:
  11-A. NEW YORK STATE  NUCLEAR  ENGINEERING  DEGREE  INCENTIVE  PROGRAM
AWARDS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE-E OF THIS TITLE.
  S  3.  The  sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or so much
thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of
education out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to
the credit of the higher education services corporation,  not  otherwise
appropriated, and made immediately available for the purpose of carrying
out  the  provisions  of section 669-e of the education law, as added by
section one of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the  audit  and
warrant  of  the  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 July  next  succeeding
the  date  on  which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that
effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date are authorized and directed to be made  and  completed  on  or
before such effective date.