S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2052
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MAHER, E. BROWN, DeSTEFANO, LEMONDES, BRABENEC,
McDONOUGH, HAWLEY, BENDETT -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing loan
forgiveness for agriculture educators
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 AGRICULTURE EDUCATORS LOAN FORGIVENESS INCEN-
TIVE PROGRAM. 1. DEFINITION. THE TERM "AGRICULTURE EDUCATOR" MEANS AN
INSTRUCTOR WHO PROVIDES DIDACTIC INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS ABOUT AGRICUL-
TURE, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES DELIVERED THROUGH LESSONS IN SCIENCE,
COMMUNICATIONS, LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY.
2. PURPOSE. THE PRESIDENT SHALL GRANT STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS AWARDS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLEVIATING THE BURDEN OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT FOR AGRI-
CULTURE EDUCATORS TEACHING IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE EDUCATION IN NEW
YORK STATE. SUCH AWARDS SHALL BE MADE ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS AS PROMUL-
GATED BY THE CORPORATION FOR SUCH PURPOSES, TO APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL INCLUDE
PROVISIONS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF APPLICANTS WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY
DISADVANTAGED.
3. ELIGIBILITY. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,
APPLICANTS SHALL:
(A) HAVE GRADUATED AND OBTAINED A DEGREE FROM AN APPROVED NEW YORK
STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY;
(B) HAVE AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT LOAN DEBT FROM OBTAINING SUCH DEGREE;
(C) BE EMPLOYED AS A FULL-TIME AGRICULTURE EDUCATOR IN NEW YORK STATE
FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS;
(D) RESIDE IN NEW YORK STATE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS POST GRADUATION;
(E) APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM WITHIN TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE GRADUATION; AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04847-01-5
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