S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8501
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
December 3, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the New York state
masters-in-mental health incentive scholarship 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 669-i
to read as follows:
§ 669-I. NEW YORK STATE MASTERS-IN-MENTAL HEALTH INCENTIVE SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM. 1. STUDENTS WHO ARE MATRICULATED IN AN APPROVED MASTER'S DEGREE
IN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM AT A NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGH-
ER EDUCATION LEADING TO A CAREER AS A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN SHALL BE
ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD UNDER THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THE APPLICANT: (A)
WAS A NEW YORK STATE RESIDENT FOR TWELVE CONTINUOUS MONTHS PRIOR TO THE
BEGINNING OF THE TERM; (B) IS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN; IS AN ELIGIBLE
NON-CITIZEN; OR IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP WITHIN TWELVE
MONTHS; (C) ACHIEVED ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AS AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
FROM A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY LOCATED IN THIS STATE WITH A 3.0 GRADE
POINT AVERAGE OR HIGHER UPON COMPLETION OF SUCH UNDERGRADUATE STUDY; (D)
ENROLLS IN FULL-TIME STUDY IN AN APPROVED MASTER'S DEGREE FOR MENTAL
HEALTH PRACTITIONERS PROGRAM AT A NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF
HIGHER EDUCATION OR PRIVATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IN
THIS STATE WHICH LEADS TO LICENSURE AS A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR, FAMILY
THERAPIST, CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST, PSYCHOANALYST, OR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL
ANALYST; BE ENROLLED IN SUCH PROGRAM ON A FULL-TIME BASIS; (E) EXECUTES
A SERVICE CONTRACT AGREEING TO BE EMPLOYED FOR FOUR YEARS BY A NON-PRO-
FIT ORGANIZATION LICENSED, FUNDED OR DESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE OF MENTAL
HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, OR THE OFFICE FOR
PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; (F) BE IN A NON-DEFAULT STATUS
ON A STUDENT LOAN MADE UNDER ANY NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL EDUCATION
LOAN PROGRAM OR REPAYMENT OF ANY NEW YORK STATE AWARD; (G) EARN A CUMU-
LATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.0 OR HIGHER EACH TERM OF GRADUATE STUDY;
AND (H) COMPLIES WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE AND ALL
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13180-01-1
A. 8501 2
REQUIREMENTS PROMULGATED BY THE CORPORATION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF
THE PROGRAM.
2. WITHIN AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, AWARDS SHALL BE GRANTED TO
APPLICANTS THAT THE CORPORATION HAS CERTIFIED ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
SUCH AWARDS. UP TO FIVE HUNDRED AWARDS MAY BE GRANTED TO NEW RECIPIENTS
ANNUALLY. SUCH AWARDS SHALL BE GRANTED UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF
EACH TERM, AS DEFINED BY THE CORPORATION.
3. AN AWARD SHALL ENTITLE THE RECIPIENT TO ANNUAL PAYMENTS FOR NOT
MORE THAN TWO ACADEMIC YEARS OF FULL-TIME GRADUATE STUDY LEADING TO
CERTIFICATION AS A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN.
4. THE CORPORATION SHALL GRANT SUCH AWARDS IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE
ANNUAL TUITION CHARGED TO STATE RESIDENT STUDENTS ATTENDING A GRADUATE
PROGRAM FULL-TIME AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, OR ACTUAL TUITION
CHARGED, WHICHEVER IS LESS; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, (A) A STUDENT WHO
RECEIVES EDUCATIONAL GRANTS AND/OR SCHOLARSHIPS THAT COVER THE STUDENT'S
FULL COST OF ATTENDANCE SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD UNDER THIS
PROGRAM; (B) FOR A STUDENT WHO RECEIVES EDUCATIONAL GRANTS AND/OR SCHOL-
ARSHIPS THAT COVER LESS THAN THE STUDENT'S FULL COST OF ATTENDANCE, SUCH
GRANTS AND/OR SCHOLARSHIPS SHALL NOT BE DEEMED DUPLICATIVE OF THIS
PROGRAM AND MAY BE HELD CONCURRENTLY WITH AN AWARD UNDER THIS PROGRAM,
PROVIDED THAT THE COMBINED BENEFITS DO NOT EXCEED THE STUDENT'S FULL
COST OF ATTENDANCE; AND (C) AN AWARD UNDER THIS PROGRAM SHALL BE APPLIED
TO TUITION AFTER THE APPLICATION OF ALL OTHER EDUCATIONAL GRANTS AND
SCHOLARSHIPS LIMITED TO TUITION AND SHALL BE REDUCED IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL
TO SUCH EDUCATIONAL GRANTS AND/OR SCHOLARSHIPS. UPON NOTIFICATION OF AN
AWARD UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THE INSTITUTION SHALL DEFER THE AMOUNT OF
TUITION EQUAL TO THE AWARD. NO AWARD SHALL BE FINAL UNTIL THE RECIPI-
ENT'S SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A TERM HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE INSTITU-
TION.
5. THE CORPORATION SHALL CONVERT TO A STUDENT LOAN THE FULL AMOUNT OF
THE AWARD GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, PLUS INTEREST, ACCORDING TO
A SCHEDULE TO BE DETERMINED BY THE CORPORATION IF: (A) TWO YEARS AFTER
THE COMPLETION OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM AND RECEIPT OF INITIAL CERTIF-
ICATION IT IS FOUND THAT A RECIPIENT IS NOT EMPLOYED FOR FOUR YEARS BY
A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LICENSED, FUNDED OR DESIGNATED BY THE
OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS,
OR THE OFFICE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; (B) A RECIPIENT FAILS TO
COMPLETE HIS OR HER GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM IN MENTAL HEALTH; (C) A
RECIPIENT FAILS TO RECEIVE OR MAINTAIN HIS OR HER LICENSE IN NEW YORK
STATE FOR THE REQUIRED PERIOD; OR (D) A RECIPIENT FAILS TO RESPOND TO
REQUESTS BY THE CORPORATION FOR THE STATUS OF HIS OR HER ACADEMIC OR
PROFESSIONAL PROGRESS. THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION
SHALL BE DEFERRED FOR ANY INTERRUPTION IN GRADUATE STUDY OR EMPLOYMENT
AS ESTABLISHED BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CORPORATION. ANY
OBLIGATION TO COMPLY WITH SUCH PROVISIONS AS OUTLINED IN THIS SECTION
SHALL BE CANCELLED UPON THE DEATH OF THE RECIPIENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION 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.
6. THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS,
AND MAY PROMULGATE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS, NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTA-
TION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
THE CRITERIA FOR THE PROVISION OF AWARDS ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS, AND THE
RATE OF INTEREST CHARGED FOR REPAYMENT OF THE STUDENT LOAN.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.