Senate Bill S1988

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S1988

SPONSOR: RANZENHOFER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the repayment of
awards under the New York state math and science teaching incentive
program

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of the bill is to amend repayment provisions where a recipi-
ent of an award substantially completes his or her obligations, but is
unable to complete such obligations through no fault of his or her own.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section One - amends paragraph (b) of section 669-d of the Education Law
relating to the math and science teaching incentive program to provide
that when an award recipient has completed at least three years of the
five year obligation, and thereafter loses his or her job through no
              

fault, and is thereafter unable, despite best efforts, to find other
employment within the seven year period required by the incentive
program, then that recipient will be obligated to repay the prorated
share of the award equal to five years less the number of years taught
divided by five multiplied by the principal amount of the award, with
interest from the time the recipient lost his or her job.

Section Two - Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Many schools are abolishing positions and releasing teachers as they
downsize their faculty, sometimes releasing teachers who have worked for
several years and have received tenure. Under the terms of the math and
science teaching incentive program, if a recipient does not work in an
eligible school for at least 5 of 7 years after completion of his or her
degree program, the entire amount of grants plus accrued interest must
be repaid. With school downsizing, we find that some recipients are
seeking employment, finding eligible jobs and working for several, but
less than 5, years before being laid off. Such recipients try to find
another job, but there are no jobs available, and they are then notified
that they owe the entire amount of their grant, plus interest from the
inception of their participation, and that it must be paid off in 10
years. This does not seem fair when such recipients have fulfilled a
substantial portion of their commitment, cannot find employment through
no fault of their own, and are faced with owing more interest than if
they had simply obtained school loans. In essence, participation in the
grant program has penalized them. This bill seeks to remedy this unfair
situation.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2015-16 - S.4312-B/A.7341-B - P.S./Education
2017-18 - S.3886/A.4340 - PS/Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.