S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    361
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. JACOBSON, GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to  high  school  diploma
   requirements
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 60 to read as follows:
   60. A. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION  OF  LAW  TO  THE  CONTRARY,  THE
 COMMISSIONER  SHALL  PROMULGATE  RULES  AND  REGULATIONS TO REQUIRE AS A
 CONDITION OF AWARDING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA TO A STUDENT, THE PARENT  OR
 GUARDIAN  OF SUCH STUDENT OR, IF THE STUDENT IS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR
 OLDER OR LEGALLY EMANCIPATED, SUCH STUDENT, TO COMPLY WITH  ONE  OF  THE
 FOLLOWING:
   (I)  COMPLETE  AND SUBMIT THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID
 (FAFSA) FOR SUCH STUDENT; OR
   (II) COMPLETE A WAIVER FORM PROMULGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT, TO BE FILED
 WITH THE STUDENT'S SCHOOL DISTRICT INDICATING THAT THE PARENT OR GUARDI-
 AN OR, IF THE STUDENT IS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER OR LEGALLY EMAN-
 CIPATED, THE STUDENT, UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE FAFSA IS AND HAS  CHOSEN  NOT
 TO FILE AN APPLICATION PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF
 THIS PARAGRAPH.
   B.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE COMMIS-
 SIONER SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS  TO  REQUIRE  EACH  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT  WITH  AT  LEAST  ONE HIGH SCHOOL TO PROVIDE EACH ELIGIBLE HIGH
 SCHOOL STUDENT AND, IF APPLICABLE, HIS OR HER  PARENT  OR  GUARDIAN  ANY
 SUPPORT  OR ASSISTANCE NECESSARY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES AND REGU-
 LATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   C. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND  REGULATIONS  REQUIRING
 EACH  HIGH  SCHOOL  TO  GIVE NOTICE, NO LESS THAN FOUR TIMES DURING EACH
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05257-01-1

 A. 361                              2
 
 SCHOOL YEAR, WITH AN EXPLANATION TO  EACH  HIGH  SCHOOL  SENIOR  OF  THE
 STATE-SPONSORED  SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIAL AID AND ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO
 STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGE OR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.
   §  2.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
 the date on which 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.