S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
S. 3721 A. 5514
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
February 13, 2019
___________
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sens. LAVALLE, GALLIVAN, RITCHIE, SERINO,
SEWARD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be
committed to the Committee on Higher Education
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to expanding the eligi-
bility and increasing the number of awards for the New York state
young farmers loan forgiveness incentive program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 679-f of the education law, as added by section 1
of part Y of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as
follows:
§ 679-f. New York state young farmers loan forgiveness incentive
program. 1. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan forgiveness
awards for the purpose of alleviating the burden of student loan debt
for young farmers. Such awards shall be made on a competitive basis, in
accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the corporation for
such purposes, to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. Such
rules and regulations shall include provisions for the consideration of
applicants who are economically disadvantaged.
2. Eligibility. To be eligible for an award pursuant to this section,
applicants shall: (a) have graduated and obtained [a] AN UNDERGRADUATE
OR GRADUATE degree from an approved New York state college or universi-
ty; (b) have an outstanding student loan debt from obtaining such
degree; (c) operate a farm in New York state on a full-time basis; (d)
agree to operate such farm for the duration of no less than five years;
(e) apply for this program within two years of college graduation; and
(f) comply with subdivisions three and five of section six hundred
sixty-one of this part.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03209-01-9
S. 3721 2 A. 5514
3. Awards. No greater than [ten] TWENTY awards shall be granted to
qualified applicants in the amount of up to ten thousand dollars per
year, per applicant, not to exceed a duration of [five] SIX years and
not to exceed the total amount of such applicant's student loan debt.
The corporation shall grant such awards within amounts appropriated for
such purposes and based on the availability of funds. No one applicant
shall receive more than a total of [fifty] SIXTY thousand dollars upon
the end of a [five] SIX year period.
4. Priority. First priority shall be given to applicants who are
completing the second, third, fourth or fifth year of full-time farm
operation and are re-applying to receive an award under this program.
Second priority shall be given to an applicant who can demonstrate
economic need but did not receive an award during the first year of this
program's operation. If larger numbers of applicants are eligible pursu-
ant to this subdivision than funds available, applicants shall be chosen
pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the corporation.
Provided, however, that each applicant chosen shall receive an award of
up to ten thousand dollars in each year such applicant is accepted into
the program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.