S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8367
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
June 12, 2017
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Introduced by M. of A. WALLACE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to expanding eligibility
under the veterans tuition awards program; and to amend the executive
law, in relation to directing the division of military and naval
affairs to establish and maintain a registry of state residents who
are veterans of the United States military efforts in Iraq and Afghan-
istan
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 669-a of the education law is
amended by adding a new paragraph d-1 to read as follows:
D-1. "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON WHO: (I) IS A RESIDENT OF THE STATE;
(II) SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES; (III) WAS A RESI-
DENT OF THE STATE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO HIS OR HER ENTRY INTO SUCH ARMED
FORCES; AND (IV) RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE BRANCH OF THE
ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH HE OR SHE SERVED.
§ 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 669-a of the education
law, as amended by section 3 of part N of chapter 57 of the laws of
2008, is amended and a new paragraph a-1 is added to read as follows:
a. Tuition awards are available for all Vietnam VETERANS, Persian Gulf
VETERANS, Afghanistan [and] VETERANS, other eligible combat veterans,
[as defined in subdivision one of this section] AND VETERANS, who are
enrolled, pursuant to paragraph a of subdivision four of section six
hundred sixty-one of this part, in approved undergraduate or graduate
programs at degree granting institutions or enrolled in approved voca-
tional training programs and who apply for a tuition assistance program
award pursuant to section six hundred sixty-seven of this subpart.
A-1. ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AS
OF THE DATE THE APPLICATION IS RECEIVED BY THE CORPORATION. UPON NOTIFI-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
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A. 8367 2
CATION OF AN AWARD UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THE INSTITUTION SHALL DEFER THE
AMOUNT OF TUITION.
§ 3. The opening paragraph of subdivision 4 of section 669-a of the
education law is designated paragraph a and three new paragraphs b, c
and d are added to read as follows:
B. AN APPLICANT WHO HAS EARNED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IS INELIGIBLE TO
RECEIVE AN AWARD PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION FOR AN ADDITIONAL BACHELOR'S
DEGREE PROGRAM, BUT MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE AN AWARD FOR A GRADUATE
DEGREE PROGRAM.
C. AN APPLICANT WHO HAS EARNED AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IS INELIGIBLE TO
RECEIVE AN AWARD FOR A TWO YEAR PROGRAM OF STUDY PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION.
D. NOTWITHSTANDING PARAGRAPH C OF SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION SIX
HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE OF THIS PART, A SCHOOL SHALL CERTIFY THAT A RECIPIENT
HAS ACHIEVED THE MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL
COMPLETION OF HIS OR HER COURSEWORK TO RECEIVE PAYMENT UNDER THE AWARD.
§ 4. Section 190 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. THE DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS SHALL, IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A REGIS-
TRY OF STATE RESIDENTS WHO ARE HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS OF THE
ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WHO SERVED ON REGULAR ACTIVE DUTY
(OTHER THAN FOR TRAINING) DURING PART OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PERIODS:
(A) FROM SEPTEMBER EIGHTEENTH, TWO THOUSAND ONE UNTIL THE END OF THE
UNITED STATES MILITARY EFFORTS IN AFGHANISTAN; OR
(B) FROM OCTOBER SIXTEENTH, TWO THOUSAND TWO UNTIL THE END OF THE
UNITED STATES MILITARY EFFORTS IN IRAQ.
THE INFORMATION IN SUCH REGISTRY SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE CONFIDENTIAL,
AND MAY ONLY BE ACCESSED BY THE CONCERNED VETERAN FOR PURPOSES OF PROOF
OF HIS OR HER MILITARY SERVICE.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.