Senate Bill S143

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S143

SPONSOR: CARLUCCI
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the duration of
tuition assistance awards

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to extend the duration of tuition assistance
awards to five years. Present law provides for undergraduate students to
generally receive tuition assistance payments (TAP) for four years of
study. Students who are enrolled in certain approved 5-year undergradu-
ate programs may receive 5 years of TAP assistance.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Adds a new subdivision 1-a to section 604 of the education
law providing that TAP aid be available to students enrolled in approved
programs for 5 academic years in the aggregate.
              

Section 2. Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State funds two programs which provide need-based aid to all
eligible higher education students: the Tuition Assistance Program
(TAP), a state-operated financial aid program for State residents
attending approved postsecondary institutions in New York, and the
Supplemental Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) providing up to one addi-
tional year of aid for educationally disadvantaged students enrolled in
remedial courses. STAP awards are determined in the same manner as TAP
awards. It is a given fact that the Legislature has a history of endeav-
oring to maintain a balanced relationship between the independent and
public sectors of higher education. This has been coupled with a desire
to make resources available for providing students with the maximum
access in all sectors of higher education.

In past years, eligibility levels were increased, along with the maximum
awards available to students attending New York's colleges.  However,
there has been no effort to increase the number of years of eligibility
for these very same students.

New factors have evolved during this time, including the lack of class
availability for those students who hope to graduate within the "normal"
four year period. Subsequently, many students have been forced to attend
college for up to five years to obtain their undergraduate degree. Many
students who need to work to support themselves are also forced to
reduce their coursework, also prolonging their college years. New York
needs to factor these circumstances into the equation when allocating
TAP assistance.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017-18: S1722/A1227 - HIGHER EDUCATION/higher education
2015-16:  S1224/A265 - Higher Education/Higher Education
2014: S6844/A2502 - Higher Education/Higher Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.