S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2287
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 22, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. PICHARDO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Social Services
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  social  services law, in relation to creating a
   stipend program for students and eligible persons  earning  less  than
   $100,000 per year
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new  section
 98 to read as follows:
   § 98. STIPEND PROGRAM. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A)  "STUDENT" SHALL MEAN A PERSON ENROLLED FOR AT LEAST SIX HOURS, OR
 THE EQUIVALENT, PER SEMESTER IN THE  "STATE  UNIVERSITY,"  A  "COMMUNITY
 COLLEGE,"  OR  A  "STATUTORY  OR CONTRACT COLLEGE" AS DEFINED IN SECTION
 THREE HUNDRED FIFTY OF THE EDUCATION LAW, OR ENROLLED FOR AT  LEAST  SIX
 HOURS,  OR  THE  EQUIVALENT, PER SEMESTER IN A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY WITHIN
 THE STATE; AND
   (B) "ELIGIBLE PERSON" SHALL MEAN:
   (I) A STUDENT OR A PERSON WHO IS EMPLOYED FOR AT  LEAST  TWENTY  HOURS
 PER WEEK AND SUCH STUDENT OR PERSON EARNS LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
 DOLLARS PER YEAR; AND
   (II) A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES; AND
   (III)  AN  INDIVIDUAL NOT EMPLOYED BY THE STATE, A MUNICIPALITY WITHIN
 THE STATE, OR EMPLOYED AS A "STATE OFFICER" OR "LOCAL OFFICER" AS SPECI-
 FIED IN SECTION TWO OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
   2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT  A  STIPEND  PROGRAM  IN
 CONJUNCTION  WITH  THE  STATE  COMPTROLLER  TO  PROVIDE CERTAIN ELIGIBLE
 PERSONS WITHIN THE STATE A STIPEND OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS  EACH  MONTH.
 EACH  HOUSEHOLD  SHALL  NOT  RECEIVE  MORE  THAN  ONE STIPEND UNDER SUCH
 PROGRAM. FUNDING FOR SUCH PROGRAM SHALL BE PAID FROM THE STATE  TREASURY
 UPON  THE  AUDIT AND WARRANT OF THE COMPTROLLER OUT OF FUNDS MADE AVAIL-
 ABLE THEREFOR. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CREATE AN  APPLICATION  PROCESS  FOR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD06400-01-9

 A. 2287                             2
 
 SUCH PROGRAM, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE A METHOD FOR VERIFYING ELIGIBILITY AND
 A PROCESS FOR ANNUAL RECERTIFICATION UNDER THIS SECTION.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
 this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
 on or before such effective date.