S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8101
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
June 3, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LUPARDO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to eligibility and 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 degree from an
approved New York state college or university; (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] HAVE PRODUCED AN "AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT"
AS DEFINED BY SECTION THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT OF THE AGRICULTURE AND
MARKETS LAW, FOR NO MORE THAN TEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS; and (f) comply with
subdivisions three and five of section six hundred sixty-one of this
part.
3. Awards. No greater than ten awards shall be granted to qualified
applicants in the amount of up to ten thousand dollars per year, per
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11672-01-9
A. 8101 2
applicant, not to exceed a duration of five 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 thousand dollars upon the end of a five 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] A PREVIOUS APPLICATION PERIOD. If larger
numbers of applicants are eligible pursuant to this subdivision than
funds available, applicants shall be chosen pursuant to rules and regu-
lations 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 on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.