Senate Bill S6312B

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Expands the veterans tuition awards program to include all persons who were honorably discharged and were residents of the state before and after serving in the armed forces of the United States

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs 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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Actions

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2018	referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Nov 29, 2017	print number 6312b
Nov 29, 2017	amend (t) and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Jun 12, 2017	print number 6312a
Jun 12, 2017	amend and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
May 11, 2017	referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs

Bill Amendments

Original

B (Active)

2017-S6312 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8367
Current Committee:: Senate Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §669-a, Ed L

2017-S6312 - Summary

Expands the veterans tuition awards program to include all persons who were honorably discharged and were residents of the state before and after serving in the armed forces of the United States; provides veterans an award equal to the in-state tuition paid at a state university for each semester the veteran is engaged in undergraduate, graduate or vocational study.

2017-S6312 - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6312

 TITLE OF BILL :  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 Afghanistan

 PURPOSE :

This bill will provide the means for all New York resident veterans of
the armed services of the United States, who by virtue of that
service, have earned the right, regardless of socio-economic status,
to receive a college education at a New York public or private
institution of higher learning and the opportunity to succeed in our
global economy.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one amends subdivision 1 of section 669-a of the education law
to add a new paragraph d-1 which establishes the definition of
"veteran" to mean a person who (i) is a resident of the state; (ii)
served in the armed forces of the United States; (iii) was a resident
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.

Section two amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 669-a of
the education law to include veterans, as defined in paragraph d-1 of
subdivision 1 of section 669-a of the education law, amongst those
eligible to receive veterans tuition awards program.

Section three amends subdivision 4 of section 669-a of the education
law and establishes three new paragraphs which state that the awards
cannot be used to obtain an additional bachelor's degree program,
graduate degree program or associate's degree program. Further,
requires the school to 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.

Section four amends section 190 of the executive law to require the
Division of Military and Naval Affairs, in consultation with the
federal Department of Defense, establish and maintain a registry 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 18, 2001 until the end of the United States
military efforts in Afghanistan; or (b) from October 16, 2002 until
the end of the United States military efforts in Iraq. The information
on the 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.

Section five establishes the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

This year in the FY 2017-2018 State Budget, New York enacted the
Excelsior Scholarship program, which expands the Tuition Assistance
Program by more than $1 billion, in an effort to make college more
affordable for New York State students. Absent from the adopted
program are provisions which would expand eligibility to include all
military veterans. These men and women have sacrificed so much to
defend our freedom, and it is only fitting that they have an
opportunity to further their education to better compete in the global
economy. This bill would expand the eligibility of the newly
established scholarship program to those proud men and women who serve
in the Armed Forces.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2017-S6312 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6312
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 11, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MURPHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
   ty and Military Affairs
 
 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.

                                                            LBD08678-03-7

 S. 6312                             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.

2017-S6312A - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8367
Current Committee:: Senate Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §669-a, Ed L

2017-S6312A - Summary

2017-S6312A - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S6312A

 TITLE OF BILL :

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 Afghanistan

 PURPOSE :

This bill will provide the means for all New York resident veterans of
the armed services of the United States, who by virtue of that
service, have earned the right, regardless of socio-economic status,
to receive a college education at a New York public or private
institution of higher learning and the opportunity to succeed in our
global economy.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one amends subdivision 1 of section 669-a of the education law
to add a new paragraph d-1 which establishes the definition of
"veteran" to mean a person who (i) is a resident of the state; (ii)
served in the armed forces of the United States; (iii) was a resident

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.

Section two amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 669-a of
the education law to include veterans, as defined in paragraph d-1 of
subdivision 1 of section 669-a of the education law, amongst those
eligible to receive veterans tuition awards program.

Section three amends section 190 of the executive law to require the
Division of Military and Naval Affairs, in consultation with the
federal Department of Defense, establish and maintain a voluntary
registry 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 18, 2001 until the end of the
United States military efforts in Afghanistan; or (b) from October 16,
2002 until the end of the United States military efforts in Iraq.  The
information on the 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.

Section four establishes the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

This year in the FY 2017-2018 State Budget, New York enacted the
Excelsior Scholarship program, which expands the Tuition Assistance
Program by more than $1 billion, in an effort to make college more
affordable for New York State students. Absent from the adopted
program are provisions which would expand eligibility to include all
military veterans. These men and women have sacrificed so much to
defend our freedom, and it is only fitting that they have an
opportunity to further their education to better compete in the global
economy. This bill would expand the eligibility of the newly
established scholarship program to those proud men and women who serve
in the Armed Forces.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2017-S6312A - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6312--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 11, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MURPHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
   ty and Military Affairs -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 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 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08678-05-7

 S. 6312--A                          2
 
   §  3.  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 ESTABLISH AND
 MAINTAIN A VOLUNTARY REGISTRY  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.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

co-Sponsors

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8367
Current Committee:: Senate Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §669-a, Ed L

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S6312B

SPONSOR: MURPHY
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
expanding eligibility under the veterans tuition awards program

 
PURPOSE:

This bill will provide the means for all New York resident veterans of
the armed services of the United States, who by virtue of that service,
have earned the right, regardless of socio-economic status, to receive a
college education at a New York public or private institution of higher
learning and the opportunity to succeed in our global economy.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends subdivision 1 of section 669-a of the education law
to add a new paragraph d-1 which establishes the definition of "veteran"
to mean a person who (i) is a resident of the state; (ii) served in the
armed forces of the United States; (iii) was a resident 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.

Section two amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 669-a of
the education law to include veterans, as defined in paragraph d-1 of
subdivision 1 of section 669-a of the education law, amongst those
eligible to receive veterans tuition awards program.

Section three establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This year in the FY 2017-2018 State Budget, New York enacted the Excels-
ior Scholarship program, which expands the Tuition Assistance Program by
more than $1 billion, in an effort to make college more affordable for
New York State students. Absent from the adopted program are provisions
which would expand eligibility to include all military veterans. These
men and women have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom, and it is
only fitting that they have an opportunity to further their education to
better compete in the global economy. This bill would expand the eligi-
bility of the newly established scholarship program to those proud men
and women who serve in the Armed Forces.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017:  Referred to Veterans

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6312--B
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 11, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MURPHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
   ty and Military Affairs -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  committee  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN  ACT to amend the education law, in relation to expanding eligibility
   under the veterans tuition awards program
 
   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 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.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08678-07-7

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Senate Bill S6312B

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2017-S6312 - Details

2017-S6312 - Summary

2017-S6312 - Sponsor Memo

2017-S6312 - Bill Text download pdf

2017-S6312A - Details

2017-S6312A - Summary

2017-S6312A - Sponsor Memo

2017-S6312A - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Senate Bill S6312B

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Sponsored By

Terrence Murphy

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2017-S6312 - Details

2017-S6312 - Summary

2017-S6312 - Sponsor Memo

2017-S6312 - Bill Text download pdf

2017-S6312A - Details

2017-S6312A - Summary

2017-S6312A - Sponsor Memo

2017-S6312A - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

Simcha Felder

Pamela Helming

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S6312B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments