S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5986
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 4, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. PICHARDO, SAYEGH, DE LA ROSA -- read once and
   referred to the Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services  law,  in  relation  to  creating  a
   stipend  program  for  students and eligible persons earning less than
   $100,000 per year

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
 98 to read as follows:
   § 98. STIPEND PROGRAM. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A) "STUDENT" SHALL MEAN A PERSON ENROLLED FOR AT LEAST SIX HOURS,  OR
 THE  EQUIVALENT,  PER  SEMESTER  IN THE "STATE UNIVERSITY," A "COMMUNITY
 COLLEGE," OR A "STATUTORY OR CONTRACT COLLEGE"  AS  DEFINED  IN  SECTION
 THREE  HUNDRED  FIFTY OF THE EDUCATION LAW, OR ENROLLED FOR AT LEAST SIX
 HOURS, OR THE EQUIVALENT, PER SEMESTER IN A  PRIVATE  UNIVERSITY  WITHIN
 THE STATE; AND
   (B) "ELIGIBLE PERSON" SHALL MEAN:
   (I)  A  STUDENT  OR A PERSON WHO IS EMPLOYED FOR AT LEAST TWENTY HOURS
 PER WEEK AND SUCH STUDENT OR PERSON EARNS LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
 DOLLARS PER YEAR; AND
   (II) A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES; AND
   (III) AN INDIVIDUAL NOT EMPLOYED BY THE STATE, A  MUNICIPALITY  WITHIN
 THE STATE, OR EMPLOYED AS A "STATE OFFICER" OR "LOCAL OFFICER" AS SPECI-
 FIED IN SECTION TWO OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
   2.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A STIPEND PROGRAM IN
 CONJUNCTION WITH THE  STATE  COMPTROLLER  TO  PROVIDE  CERTAIN  ELIGIBLE
 PERSONS  WITHIN  THE STATE A STIPEND OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH MONTH.
 EACH HOUSEHOLD SHALL NOT  RECEIVE  MORE  THAN  ONE  STIPEND  UNDER  SUCH
 PROGRAM.  FUNDING FOR SUCH PROGRAM SHALL BE PAID FROM THE STATE TREASURY
 UPON THE AUDIT AND WARRANT OF THE COMPTROLLER OUT OF FUNDS  MADE  AVAIL-
 ABLE  THEREFOR.  THE  DEPARTMENT SHALL CREATE AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD08340-01-1

 A. 5986                             2
 
 SUCH PROGRAM, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE A METHOD FOR VERIFYING ELIGIBILITY AND
 A PROCESS FOR ANNUAL RECERTIFICATION UNDER THIS SECTION.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
 this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
 on or before such effective date.