S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4618
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 4, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DURSO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating the New York
state public sector employee loan forgiveness program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 679-k
to read as follows:
§ 679-K. NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEE LOAN FORGIVENESS
PROGRAM. 1. PURPOSE. THE PRESIDENT SHALL GRANT STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS
AWARDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTRACTING WORKERS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR. 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.
2. ELIGIBILITY. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,
APPLICANTS SHALL: (A) HAVE GRADUATED AND OBTAINED AN UNDERGRADUATE OR
GRADUATE DEGREE FROM THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR CITY UNIVERSITY
OF NEW YORK; (B) BE EMPLOYED FULL-TIME IN THIS STATE IN A STATE OR LOCAL
PUBLIC SECTOR POSITION THAT REQUIRES THE UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE
DEGREE THE APPLICANT OBTAINED FROM THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR
CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK; (C) HAVE AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT LOAN DEBT
FROM AN UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE DEGREE FROM THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF
NEW YORK OR CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK REQUIRED FOR SUCH APPLICANT'S
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT; AND (D) BE A RESIDENT OF THIS STATE.
3. AWARDS. THE CORPORATION SHALL GRANT AWARDS PURSUANT TO THE AMOUNT
APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE AND BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS IN AN
AMOUNT UP TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR, PER APPLICANT, NOT TO
EXCEED A DURATION OF TEN YEARS, AND NOT TO EXCEED THE TOTAL REMAINING
BALANCE OF THE APPLICANT'S STUDENT LOAN DEBT.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08868-01-1
A. 4618 2
4. RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE
RULES AND REGULATIONS AND MAY PROMULGATE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS NECESSARY
FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.