S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5162--A
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 12, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRINDISI, MOSLEY, KAMINSKY, BLAKE, SANTABARBARA,
McDONALD, CURRAN, MURRAY, JAFFEE, MILLER, ORTIZ, RIVERA, CROUCH,
DiPIETRO, PALMESANO, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK,
DUPREY, ENGLEBRIGHT, GIGLIO, HAWLEY, HOOPER, KEARNS, LUPARDO, MAGEE,
McDONOUGH, McKEVITT, McLAUGHLIN, SCHIMMINGER, THIELE, WALTER -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted
to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with Assembly Rule
3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the volunteer fire-
fighters of New York higher education learning plan
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-h
to read as follows:
S 669-H. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS OF NEW YORK HIGHER EDUCATION LEARNING
PLAN. 1. ELIGIBILITY. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE MATRICULATED IN AN
APPROVED UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND
ARE MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING IN ONE OF NEW YORK'S VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPA-
NIES SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD UNDER THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THE
APPLICANT: (A) SIGNS A CONTRACT WITH THE CORPORATION AGREEING TO WORK
FOR A NEW YORK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY ON A FULL-TIME BASIS FOR FIVE
YEARS; AND (B) COMPLIES WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE
AND ALL REQUIREMENTS PROMULGATED BY THE CORPORATION FOR THE ADMINIS-
TRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
2. WITHIN THE AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, AWARDS SHALL BE GRANTED
TO APPLICANTS THAT THE CORPORATION HAS CERTIFIED ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
SUCH AWARDS. SUCH AWARDS SHALL BE MADE TO RECIPIENTS AFTER THE SUCCESS-
FUL COMPLETION OF EACH ACADEMIC YEAR, AS DEFINED BY THE CORPORATION.
3. AN AWARD SHALL ENTITLE THE RECIPIENT TO ANNUAL PAYMENTS FOR NOT
MORE THAN FOUR ACADEMIC YEARS OF FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDY.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07648-03-6
A. 5162--A 2
4. RECIPIENTS SHALL RECEIVE AN ANNUAL PAYMENT FOR THE SUCCESSFUL
COMPLETION OF AN ACADEMIC YEAR, EQUAL TO UP TO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF
THE ANNUAL TUITION CHARGED TO STATE RESIDENT STUDENTS ATTENDING AN
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM FULL-TIME AT 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) A RECIPIENT FAILS
TO COMPLETE THEIR COURSE OF STUDIES AS AGREED TO WITH THE CORPORATION OR
IS NOT A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING IN A NEW YORK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
WHILE OBTAINING HIS OR HER DEGREE; OR (B) TWO YEARS AFTER THE COMPLETION
OF THEIR COURSE OF STUDIES AS AGREED TO WITH THE CORPORATION IT IS FOUND
THAT THE RECIPIENT IS NOT WORKING FOR A NEW YORK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY;
OR (C) A RECIPIENT HAS NOT WORKED FOR A NEW YORK VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
FOR FIVE OF THE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THEIR COURSE OF
STUDIES AS AGREED TO WITH THE CORPORATION; OR (D) A RECIPIENT FAILS TO
RESPOND TO REQUESTS BY THE FIREMAN'S ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK FOR THE STATUS OF HIS OR HER ACADEMIC OR PROFESSIONAL PROGRESS.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.