NY State Senate Bill 2015-S7561

Senate Bill S7561

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Relates to granting academic credit to volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance workers and volunteer emergency medical technicians

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last 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
May 10, 2016	referred to higher education

2015-S7561 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§350 & 6202, add §§362 & 6217, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2017-2018 Legislative Session:: S2772

2015-S7561 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to granting academic credit at state operated institutions of the state university of New York and the senior colleges of the city university of New York to volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance workers and volunteer emergency medical technicians.

2015-S7561 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S7561

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the education law, in relation to granting academic
credit at state operated institutions of the state university of New
York and the senior colleges of the city university of New York to
volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance workers and volunteer
emergency medical technicians

 PURPOSE :

To permit the granting of academic credit at state operated
institutions to volunteer first responders.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 amends § 350 of the Education Law by defining the terms
"volunteer firefighter," "volunteer ambulance worker," and "volunteer
emergency medical technician," for the sections of law relating to the
State University and State Financial Assistance for Higher Education.

Section 2 amends the Education Law by adding a new section authorizing
the granting of course credit for volunteer firefighters, volunteer
ambulance workers, and volunteer emergency medical technicians through
the State University system.

Section 3 amends § 6202 of the Education Law by defining the terms
"volunteer firefighter," "volunteer ambulance worker," and "volunteer
emergency medical technician," for the sections of law relating to the
City University of New York.

Section 4 amends the Education Law by adding a new section authorizing
the granting of course credit for volunteer firefighters, volunteer
ambulance workers, and volunteer emergency medical technicians through
the City University system.

Section 5 is the effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :

The terms "volunteer firefighter," "volunteer ambulance worker," and
"volunteer emergency medical technician," are defined pursuant to
other sections of law.

Volunteer firefighter is defined pursuant to § 3(1) of the Volunteer
Firefighters' Benefit Law, which states, "volunteer fireman means an
active volunteer member of a fire company."

Volunteer ambulance worker is defined pursuant to § 3(1) of the
Volunteer Ambulance Workers Benefit Law, which states, "volunteer
ambulance worker means an active volunteer member of an ambulance
company as specified on a list regularly maintained by that company
for the purpose of this chapter."

Volunteer emergency medical technician is defines pursuant to §
3001(6) of the Public Health Law, which states, "emergency medical
technician means an individual who meets the minimum requirements
established by regulations pursuant to § 3002 of this Article, and who
is responsible for administration or supervision of initial emergency
medical care and transportation of sick or injured persons." Section
3002 of the Public Health Law creates the New York State Emergency
Medical Services Council and authorizes the Council to enact, amend,
and repeal the rules and regulations for establishing standards for
ambulance and related public health services.

Article 14 of the Education Law pertains to the New York State Higher
Education Services Corporation. Part 2 of this Article provides the
provisions related to student financial aid and subpart 2 provides
general awards. Currently, the general awards subpart does not
authorize the granting of course credit for volunteer firefighters,
volunteer ambulance workers and volunteer emergency medical
technicians.

 JUSTIFICATION :

The men and women who protect public health and safety as volunteer
firefighters, volunteer ambulance workers and volunteer emergency
medical technicians play a vital role in communities across New York
State.

In becoming volunteer emergency responders, individuals are required
to complete extensive training that enables them to meet the demands
of their volunteer work. These courses teach volunteers a wide variety
of skills, many of which are already part of courses that could help a
student successfully earn a SUNY diploma.

This bill would help to support volunteer responders by allowing them
to earn college credits for the completion of certain courses that
were part of their training. In addition, while volunteering to serve
one's community can be personally satisfying and rewarding, this bill
provides an additional incentive to attract new recruits.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the first July next succeeding the date
on which is shall have become law,

2015-S7561 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  7561

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              May 10, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. RITCHIE -- 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  granting  academic
  credit  at  state operated institutions of the state university of New
  York and the senior colleges of the city university  of  New  York  to
  volunteer  firefighters,  volunteer  ambulance  workers  and volunteer
  emergency medical technicians

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

  Section 1. Section 350 of the education law is amended by adding three
new subdivisions 14, 15 and 16 to read as follows:
  14. "VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SUBDIVISION
ONE OF SECTION THREE OF THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' BENEFIT LAW.
  15. "VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SUBDI-
VISION  ONE OF SECTION THREE OF THE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKERS' BENEFIT
LAW.
  16. "VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEAN-
ING AS SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION  THREE  THOUSAND  ONE  OF  THE  PUBLIC
HEALTH LAW BUT SHALL ONLY APPLY TO THOSE WORKERS WHO ARE VOLUNTEERS.
  S  2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 362 to read
as follows:
  S 362. COURSE CREDIT FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS,  VOLUNTEER  AMBULANCE
WORKERS  AND VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. 1. EVERY VOLUNTEER
FIREFIGHTER, VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER AND VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY  MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN,  AS  DEFINED IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY OF THIS ARTICLE,
WHO IS ENROLLED ON A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME BASIS  AS  AN  UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT  IN  GOOD STANDING AT AN INSTITUTION WITHIN THE STATE UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM SHALL, UPON APPLICATION, BE GRANTED UP TO  SIX  ACADEMIC  CREDITS
PER  YEAR  AND THIRTY CREDITS IN THE AGGREGATE TOWARDS HIS OR HER DEGREE
FOR COMPLETION OF COURSES THAT WERE PART OF SUCH  PERSON'S  TRAINING  IF
THE  COMPLETED  COURSES  MEET  THE  STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON
EDUCATION OR ITS EQUIVALENT FOR THE AWARDING  OF  ACADEMIC  CREDITS.  NO
FEE, TUITION OR OTHER CHARGE SHALL BE ASSESSED AGAINST A VOLUNTEER FIRE-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD15154-02-6

S. 7561                             2

FIGHTER,  VOLUNTEER  AMBULANCE  WORKER  AND  VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN, WHO QUALIFIES FOR SUCH CREDIT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
  2.  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL ADOPT SUCH
PROCEDURES AS ARE NECESSARY TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
SECTION.
  S  3. Section 6202 of the education law is amended by adding three new
subdivisions 10, 11 and 12 to read as follows:
  10. THE TERM "VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER" SHALL HAVE THE  SAME  MEANING  AS
SUBDIVISION  ONE OF SECTION THREE OF THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' BENEFIT
LAW.
  11. THE TERM "VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER" SHALL HAVE THE SAME  MEANING
AS  SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION THREE OF THE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKERS'
BENEFIT LAW.
  12. THE TERM "VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN" SHALL  HAVE  THE
SAME  MEANING  AS  SUBDIVISION  SIX OF SECTION THREE THOUSAND ONE OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW BUT SHALL ONLY APPLY TO THOSE WORKERS WHO  ARE  VOLUN-
TEERS.
  S 4. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6217 to read
as follows:
  S  6217. COURSE CREDIT FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE
WORKERS AND VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. 1. EVERY  VOLUNTEER
FIREFIGHTER,  VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE WORKER AND VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN, AS DEFINED IN SECTION SIXTY-TWO HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTICLE,
WHO IS ENROLLED ON A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME BASIS  AS  AN  UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT  IN  GOOD  STANDING AT AN INSTITUTION WITHIN THE CITY UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM SHALL, UPON APPLICATION, BE GRANTED UP TO  SIX  ACADEMIC  CREDITS
PER  YEAR  AND THIRTY CREDITS IN THE AGGREGATE TOWARDS HIS OR HER DEGREE
FOR COMPLETION OF COURSES THAT WERE PART OF SUCH  PERSON'S  TRAINING  IF
THE  COMPLETED  COURSES  MEET  THE  STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON
EDUCATION OR ITS EQUIVALENT FOR THE AWARDING  OF  ACADEMIC  CREDITS.  NO
FEE, TUITION OR OTHER CHARGE SHALL BE ASSESSED AGAINST A VOLUNTEER FIRE-
FIGHTER,  VOLUNTEER  AMBULANCE  WORKER  AND  VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN, WHO QUALIFIES FOR SUCH CREDIT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
  2. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CITY  UNIVERSITY  OF  NEW  YORK  SHALL
ADOPT SUCH PROCEDURES AS ARE NECESSARY TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS SECTION.
  S  5.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.

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