S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1725
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 16, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting "Tuition-Free
   NY"
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as "Tuition-Free
 NY".
   § 2. Paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education  law
 is amended by adding a new subparagraph 1-a to read as follows:
   (1-A) THE TRUSTEES SHALL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PERMIT ANY STUDENT WHO
 HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO A STATE-OPERATED INSTITUTION OF THE STATE UNIVERSI-
 TY  TO  ATTEND  WITHOUT  THE PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES IF SUCH STUDENT
 FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS  OF
 THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL ONLY APPLY
 TO COSTS OF ONE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED
 WITH  MORE  THAN  ONE  SIMULTANEOUS  UNDERGRADUATE  DEGREE  SHALL NOT BE
 COVERED BY THIS PROGRAM.
   (I) THE TRUSTEES SHALL PROVIDE AN APPLICATION PROCESS  AND  ADMINISTER
 THE PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
   (A)  ANY  STUDENT  ELIGIBLE FOR RESIDENT TUITION RATES IS ELIGIBLE FOR
 THIS PROGRAM.
   (B) THE STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM A MINIMUM OF  TWENTY-FIVE
 HOURS  OF  COMMUNITY  SERVICE  FOR  EACH  YEAR  OF  PARTICIPATION IN THE
 PROGRAM. THE PRESIDENT OF EACH INSTITUTION OR HIS  OR  HER  DESIGNEE  OR
 DESIGNEES  SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE WAIVERS WHICH PERMIT STUDENTS TO
 MEET THIS SERVICE REQUIREMENT BY PERFORMING SERVICES FOR  NON-QUALIFYING
 ORGANIZATIONS  OR,  GENERALLY,  THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY; PROVIDED THAT
 THE HOUR REQUIREMENT IS MET AND SUCH PRESIDENT OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE OR
 DESIGNEES IS SATISFIED THAT THE WORK PERFORMED BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07320-01-9
              

 S. 1725                             2
 
   (C) A STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A CONTRACT AGREEING TO  RESIDE
 IN NEW YORK STATE FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS SUBSEQUENT TO COMPLETION OF
 HIS OR HER ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
   (D) STUDENTS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THEIR DEGREE PROGRAM WITHIN
 A  MINIMUM  PERIOD  OF  TIME TO BE SET BY THE TRUSTEES WHICH SHALL BE NO
 LESS THAN THREE YEARS AND NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.
   (E) A STUDENT WHO BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM OUTLINED IN THIS SUBPARA-
 GRAPH SHALL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-STATE GRADUATE SCHOOL WITHOUT
 ANY PENALTY IF SUCH STUDENT PURSUES A GRADUATE DEGREE. ONCE SUCH STUDENT
 CONCLUDES HIS OR HER GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDIES, SUCH STUDENT SHALL  RETURN
 TO  NEW  YORK  WITHIN ONE YEAR FOR RESIDENCY, PER THE PROGRAM'S REQUIRE-
 MENTS, OR ELSE THE UNDERGRADUATE BENEFIT WILL TURN INTO A  STUDENT  LOAN
 PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF CLAUSE (II) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.
   (F) A STUDENT WHO BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM OUTLINED IN THIS SUBPARA-
 GRAPH  WHO  IS  ON  ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES
 SHALL NOT BE PENALIZED IF SUCH STUDENT MAINTAINS HIS OR HER LEGAL  RESI-
 DENCE  IN  THE STATE OF NEW YORK, DURING SUCH SERVICE. "LEGAL RESIDENCE"
 AS USED IN THIS SUBCLAUSE SHALL MEAN THE PLACE WHERE  A  MEMBER  OF  THE
 MILITARY  INTENDS  TO RETURN AND LIVE AFTER DISCHARGE OR RETIREMENT, AND
 WHICH THEY CONSIDER THEIR  PERMANENT  HOME.  LEGAL  RESIDENCY  SHALL  BE
 DETERMINED  BY WHAT LOCAL AND STATE TAX LAWS A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY IS
 SUBJECT TO, AND IN WHICH STATE THEY MAY VOTE.
   (II) IF A STUDENT OR FORMER  STUDENT  FAILS  TO  FULFILL  ANY  OF  THE
 REQUIREMENTS  SET FORTH IN CLAUSE (I) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, THE TRUSTEES
 SHALL CONVERT TO A STUDENT LOAN THE FULL AMOUNT  OF  THE  TUITION  WHICH
 WOULD  HAVE  BEEN  PAID  BY  SUCH STUDENT, AS DETERMINED BY THE NEW YORK
 STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, PLUS INTEREST, ACCORDING TO
 A SCHEDULE TO BE DETERMINED BY SUCH CORPORATION.    SUCH  REPAYMENT  MAY
 ALSO  BE REQUIRED IF A RECIPIENT FAILS TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR INFOR-
 MATION NECESSARY TO DETERMINE  CONTINUED  ELIGIBILITY  OR  FOR  ADMINIS-
 TRATION  OF  THE PROGRAM.  THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS CLAUSE SHALL
 BE DEFERRED FOR STUDENTS WHO ENROLL ON AT LEAST A HALF-TIME BASIS IN  AN
 APPROVED  UNDERGRADUATE,  GRADUATE  OR  HIGHER  DEGREE  PROGRAM OR OTHER
 PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DEGREE PROGRAM UNTIL THEY ARE CONFERRED A DEGREE,
 AND SHALL ALSO BE DEFERRED FOR ANY INTERRUPTION IN  UNDERGRADUATE  STUDY
 AS  ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  RULES  AND REGULATIONS OF THE CORPORATION. THE
 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS CLAUSE MAY ALSO BE  DEFERRED  FOR  A  GRACE
 PERIOD,  TO  BE ESTABLISHED BY THE CORPORATION, FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION
 OF AN APPROVED UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM OR  A  GRADUATE  OR  HIGHER  DEGREE
 PROGRAM  OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DEGREE PROGRAM. NOTWITHSTANDING
 ANY PROVISIONS OF THIS  CLAUSE  TO  THE  CONTRARY,  THE  CORPORATION  IS
 AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE WAIVER
 OR  SUSPENSION  OF  ANY FINANCIAL OBLIGATION WHICH WOULD INVOLVE EXTREME
 HARDSHIP.
   (III) ANY STUDENT WHO ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER  THIS
 SUBPARAGRAPH  SHALL  BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 FUNDING. FUNDS AWARDED  ON  THE  TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE
 APPLIED TOWARDS THE COST OF TUITION PRIOR TO AN AWARD UNDER THIS SUBPAR-
 AGRAPH.
   (IV) STUDENTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER COSTS INCLUDING HOUS-
 ING, FEES AND OTHER NON-TUITION RELATED CHARGES.
   (V)  (A)  THIS PROGRAM SHALL NOT APPLY IN ACADEMIC YEARS COMMENCING ON
 OR BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH. (B) FOR THE FIRST TWO
 YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, THIS PROGRAM  SHALL
 ONLY APPLY TO STUDENTS ATTENDING COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS DEFINED BY SUBDI-
 VISION  TWO  OF  SECTION SIXTY-THREE HUNDRED ONE OF THIS CHAPTER. (C) IN

 S. 1725                             3
 
 ALL OTHER YEARS, THIS PROGRAM SHALL  APPLY  TO  ALL  STUDENTS  ATTENDING
 SUNY, CUNY, AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF THE STATE.
   §  3. Subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
   (E) THE TRUSTEES SHALL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PERMIT ANY  STUDENT  WHO
 HAS  BEEN  ADMITTED TO AN INSTITUTION OPERATED BY THE CITY UNIVERSITY TO
 ATTEND WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES IF SUCH STUDENT  FULFILLS
 THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  SUCH  PROGRAM  PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
 PARAGRAPH.
   (I) THE TRUSTEES SHALL PROVIDE AN APPLICATION PROCESS  AND  ADMINISTER
 THE PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
   (A)  ANY  STUDENT  ELIGIBLE FOR RESIDENT TUITION RATES IS ELIGIBLE FOR
 THIS PROGRAM.
   (B) THE STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM A MINIMUM OF  TWENTY-FIVE
 HOURS  OF  COMMUNITY  SERVICE  FOR  EACH  YEAR  OF  PARTICIPATION IN THE
 PROGRAM.  THE PRESIDENT OF EACH INSTITUTION OR HIS OR  HER  DESIGNEE  OR
 DESIGNEES  SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE WAIVERS WHICH PERMIT STUDENTS TO
 MEET THIS SERVICE REQUIREMENT BY PERFORMING SERVICES FOR  NON-QUALIFYING
 ORGANIZATIONS  OR,  GENERALLY,  THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY; PROVIDED THAT
 THE HOUR REQUIREMENT IS MET AND SUCH PRESIDENT OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE OR
 DESIGNEES IS SATISFIED THAT THE WORK PERFORMED BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY.
   (C) A STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A CONTRACT AGREEING TO  RESIDE
 IN NEW YORK STATE FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS SUBSEQUENT TO COMPLETION OF
 HIS OR HER ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
   (D) STUDENTS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THEIR DEGREE PROGRAM WITHIN
 A  MINIMUM  PERIOD  OF  TIME TO BE SET BY THE TRUSTEES WHICH SHALL BE NO
 LESS THAN THREE YEARS AND NO MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.
   (E) A STUDENT WHO BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM OUTLINED  IN  THIS  PARA-
 GRAPH SHALL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-STATE GRADUATE SCHOOL WITHOUT
 ANY PENALTY IF SUCH STUDENT PURSUES A GRADUATE DEGREE. ONCE SUCH STUDENT
 CONCLUDES  HIS OR HER GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDIES, SUCH STUDENT SHALL RETURN
 TO NEW YORK WITHIN ONE YEAR FOR RESIDENCY  PER  THE  PROGRAM'S  REQUIRE-
 MENTS,  OR  ELSE THE UNDERGRADUATE BENEFIT WILL TURN INTO A STUDENT LOAN
 PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
   (F) A STUDENT WHO BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM OUTLINED  IN  THIS  PARA-
 GRAPH  WHO  IS  ON  ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES
 SHALL NOT BE PENALIZED IF SUCH STUDENT MAINTAINS HIS OR HER LEGAL  RESI-
 DENCE  IN  THE STATE OF NEW YORK, DURING SUCH SERVICE. "LEGAL RESIDENCE"
 AS USED IN THIS CLAUSE SHALL MEAN THE PLACE WHERE A MEMBER OF THE  MILI-
 TARY INTENDS TO RETURN AND LIVE AFTER DISCHARGE OR RETIREMENT, AND WHICH
 THEY  CONSIDER THEIR PERMANENT HOME. LEGAL RESIDENCY SHALL BE DETERMINED
 BY WHAT LOCAL AND STATE TAX LAWS A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY IS SUBJECT TO,
 AND IN WHICH STATE THEY MAY VOTE.
   (II) IF A STUDENT OR FORMER  STUDENT  FAILS  TO  FULFILL  ANY  OF  THE
 REQUIREMENTS  SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE TRUS-
 TEES SHALL CONVERT TO A STUDENT LOAN THE  FULL  AMOUNT  OF  THE  TUITION
 WHICH  WOULD  HAVE  BEEN  PAID BY SUCH STUDENT, AS DETERMINED BY THE NEW
 YORK STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, PLUS INTEREST, ACCORD-
 ING TO A SCHEDULE TO BE DETERMINED BY SUCH CORPORATION.  SUCH  REPAYMENT
 MAY  ALSO  BE  REQUIRED  IF A RECIPIENT FAILS TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR
 INFORMATION NECESSARY TO DETERMINE CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY OR FOR ADMINIS-
 TRATION OF THE PROGRAM.  THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS  CLAUSE  SHALL
 BE  DEFERRED FOR STUDENTS WHO ENROLL ON AT LEAST A HALF-TIME BASIS IN AN
 APPROVED UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE  OR  HIGHER  DEGREE  PROGRAM  OR  OTHER
 PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DEGREE PROGRAM UNTIL THEY ARE CONFERRED A DEGREE,
 AND  SHALL  ALSO BE DEFERRED FOR ANY INTERRUPTION IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDY

 S. 1725                             4
 
 AS ESTABLISHED BY THE RULES AND  REGULATIONS  OF  THE  CORPORATION.  THE
 TERMS  AND  CONDITIONS  OF  THIS CLAUSE MAY ALSO BE DEFERRED FOR A GRACE
 PERIOD, TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE CORPORATION, FOLLOWING  THE  COMPLETION
 OF  AN  APPROVED  UNDERGRADUATE  PROGRAM  OR A GRADUATE OR HIGHER DEGREE
 PROGRAM OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DEGREE PROGRAM.  NOTWITHSTANDING
 ANY  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  CLAUSE  TO  THE  CONTRARY, THE CORPORATION IS
 AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE WAIVER
 OR SUSPENSION OF ANY FINANCIAL OBLIGATION WHICH  WOULD  INVOLVE  EXTREME
 HARDSHIP.
   (III)  ANY STUDENT WHO ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER THIS
 PARAGRAPH SHALL BE REQUIRED TO  APPLY  FOR  TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM
 FUNDING.  FUNDS  AWARDED  ON  THE  TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM SHALL BE
 APPLIED TOWARDS THE COST OF TUITION PRIOR TO AN AWARD UNDER THIS SUBPAR-
 AGRAPH.
   (IV) STUDENTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER COSTS INCLUDING HOUS-
 ING, FEES AND OTHER NON-TUITION RELATED CHARGES.
   (V) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT  TO  TAXA-
 TION.
   (VI)  (A) THIS PROGRAM SHALL NOT APPLY IN ACADEMIC YEARS COMMENCING ON
 OR BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) FOR  THE  FIRST  TWO
 YEARS  AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THIS PROGRAM SHALL
 ONLY APPLY TO STUDENTS ATTENDING COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS DEFINED BY SUBDI-
 VISION TWO OF SECTION SIXTY-THREE HUNDRED ONE OF THIS TITLE. (C) IN  ALL
 OTHER  YEARS,  THIS  PROGRAM SHALL APPLY TO ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING SUNY,
 CUNY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF THE STATE.
   § 4. Subdivision 1 of section 6304 of the education law is amended  by
 adding a new paragraph e to read as follows:
   E.  THE  TRUSTEES,  SPONSORS  OR  OTHER  GOVERNING BODY OF A COMMUNITY
 COLLEGE SHALL IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO PERMIT ANY  STUDENT  WHO  HAS  BEEN
 ADMITTED  TO  SUCH  COMMUNITY  COLLEGE  TO ATTEND WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF
 TUITION AND FEES IF SUCH  STUDENT  FULFILLS  THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  SUCH
 PROGRAM PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
   (I)  THE  TRUSTEES SHALL PROVIDE AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND ADMINISTER
 THE PROGRAM ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
   (A) ANY STUDENT ELIGIBLE FOR RESIDENT TUITION RATES  IS  ELIGIBLE  FOR
 THIS PROGRAM.
   (B)  THE STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM A MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FIVE
 HOURS OF COMMUNITY  SERVICE  FOR  EACH  YEAR  OF  PARTICIPATION  IN  THE
 PROGRAM.  THE PRESIDENT OR CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF EACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
 OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE OR DESIGNEES SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE WAIVERS
 WHICH  PERMIT  STUDENTS  TO  MEET THIS SERVICE REQUIREMENT BY PERFORMING
 SERVICES  FOR  NON-QUALIFYING  ORGANIZATIONS;  PROVIDED  THAT  THE  HOUR
 REQUIREMENT IS MET AND SUCH PRESIDENT, CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OR HIS OR HER
 DESIGNEE  OR DESIGNEES IS SATISFIED THAT THE WORK PERFORMED BENEFITS THE
 COMMUNITY.
   (C) A STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A CONTRACT AGREEING TO  RESIDE
 IN NEW YORK STATE FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS SUBSEQUENT TO COMPLETION OF
 HIS OR HER ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
   (D) STUDENTS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THEIR DEGREE PROGRAM WITHIN
 A  MINIMUM  PERIOD  OF  TIME TO BE SET BY THE TRUSTEES WHICH SHALL BE NO
 LESS THAN ONE YEAR AND NO MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
   (E) A STUDENT WHO BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM OUTLINED IN THIS SUBPARA-
 GRAPH SHALL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-STATE GRADUATE SCHOOL WITHOUT
 ANY PENALTY IF SUCH STUDENT PURSUES A GRADUATE DEGREE. ONCE SUCH STUDENT
 CONCLUDES HIS OR HER GRADUATE SCHOOL STUDIES, SUCH STUDENT SHALL  RETURN
 TO  NEW  YORK  WITHIN  ONE YEAR FOR RESIDENCY PER THE PROGRAM'S REQUIRE-

 S. 1725                             5
 
 MENTS, OR ELSE THE UNDERGRADUATE BENEFIT WILL TURN INTO A  STUDENT  LOAN
 PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
   (F)  A  STUDENT  WHO BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM OUTLINED IN THIS PARA-
 GRAPH WHO IS ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES
 SHALL  NOT BE PENALIZED IF SUCH STUDENT MAINTAINS HIS OR HER LEGAL RESI-
 DENCE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, DURING SUCH SERVICE.  "LEGAL  RESIDENCE"
 AS  USED IN THIS CLAUSE SHALL MEAN THE PLACE WHERE A MEMBER OF THE MILI-
 TARY INTENDS TO RETURN AND LIVE AFTER DISCHARGE OR RETIREMENT, AND WHICH
 THEY CONSIDER THEIR PERMANENT HOME. LEGAL RESIDENCY SHALL BE  DETERMINED
 BY WHAT LOCAL AND STATE TAX LAWS A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY IS SUBJECT TO,
 AND IN WHICH STATE THEY MAY VOTE.
   (II)  IF  A  STUDENT  OR  FORMER  STUDENT  FAILS TO FULFILL ANY OF THE
 REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE  TRUS-
 TEES  SHALL  CONVERT  TO  A  STUDENT LOAN THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE TUITION
 WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID BY SUCH STUDENT, AS  DETERMINED  BY  THE  NEW
 YORK STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, PLUS INTEREST, ACCORD-
 ING  TO  A SCHEDULE TO BE DETERMINED BY SUCH CORPORATION. SUCH REPAYMENT
 MAY ALSO BE REQUIRED IF A RECIPIENT FAILS TO  RESPOND  TO  REQUESTS  FOR
 INFORMATION NECESSARY TO DETERMINE CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY OR FOR ADMINIS-
 TRATION  OF  THE PROGRAM.  THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH
 SHALL BE DEFERRED FOR STUDENTS WHO ENROLL ON AT LEAST A HALF-TIME  BASIS
 IN AN APPROVED UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE OR HIGHER DEGREE PROGRAM OR OTHER
 PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DEGREE PROGRAM UNTIL THEY ARE CONFERRED A DEGREE,
 AND  SHALL  ALSO BE DEFERRED FOR ANY INTERRUPTION IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDY
 AS ESTABLISHED BY THE RULES AND  REGULATIONS  OF  THE  CORPORATION.  THE
 TERMS  AND  CONDITIONS  OF  THIS SUBPARAGRAPH MAY ALSO BE DEFERRED FOR A
 GRACE PERIOD, TO  BE  ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  CORPORATION,  FOLLOWING  THE
 COMPLETION  OF AN APPROVED UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM OR A GRADUATE OR HIGHER
 DEGREE PROGRAM OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DEGREE PROGRAM.  NOTWITH-
 STANDING ANY PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH TO THE CONTRARY, THE CORPO-
 RATION  IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR
 THE WAIVER OR SUSPENSION OF ANY FINANCIAL OBLIGATION WHICH WOULD INVOLVE
 EXTREME HARDSHIP.
   (III) ANY STUDENT WHO ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM UNDER  THIS
 PARAGRAPH  SHALL  BE  REQUIRED  TO  APPLY FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 FUNDING. FUNDS AWARDED  ON  THE  TUITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE
 APPLIED TOWARDS THE COST OF TUITION PRIOR TO AN AWARD UNDER THIS SUBPAR-
 AGRAPH.
   (IV) STUDENTS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER COSTS INCLUDING HOUS-
 ING, FEES AND OTHER NON-TUITION RELATED CHARGES.
   (V)  (A)  THIS PROGRAM SHALL NOT APPLY IN ACADEMIC YEARS COMMENCING ON
 OR BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH. (B) FOR  THE  FIRST  TWO
 YEARS  AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THIS PROGRAM SHALL
 ONLY APPLY TO STUDENTS ATTENDING COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS DEFINED BY SUBDI-
 VISION TWO OF SECTION SIXTY-THREE HUNDRED ONE OF THIS  ARTICLE.  (C)  IN
 ALL  OTHER  YEARS,  THIS  PROGRAM  SHALL APPLY TO ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING
 SUNY, CUNY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF THE STATE.
   § 5. Subdivision 1 of section 6304 of the education law is amended  by
 adding a new paragraph a-1 to read as follows:
   A-1. STATE FINANCIAL AID SHALL BE INCREASED ABOVE THE ONE-THIRD AMOUNT
 OF  OPERATING  COSTS  SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION BY AN
 AMOUNT WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE COST OF TUITION  AWARDED  TO  STUDENTS  WHO
 APPLY  AND  QUALIFY  FOR  THE  PROGRAM  SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH E OF THIS
 SUBDIVISION.
   § 6. This act shall take effect on the first of April next  succeeding
 the  date  on  which it shall have become a law.  Effective immediately,

 S. 1725                             6
 
 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or  regulation  neces-
 sary  for  the  implementation  of  this  act  on its effective date are
 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.