S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4205
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 31, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. REILLY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to directing the board of
trustees of the state university of New York and the board of trustees
of the city university of New York to develop and administer the
tuition exemption for law enforcement program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "tuition exemption for law enforcement officers act" or the "TELE
act".
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 669-i to
read as follows:
§ 669-I. TUITION EXEMPTION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. 1. DEFINITION.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "POLICE OFFICER" MEANS A MEMBER OF A
POLICE FORCE OR OTHER ORGANIZATION OF A MUNICIPALITY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CRIME AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE
GENERAL CRIMINAL LAWS OF THE STATE, BUT SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY PERSON
SERVING AS SUCH SOLELY BY VIRTUE OF OCCUPYING ANY OTHER OFFICE OR POSI-
TION, NOR SHALL SUCH TERM INCLUDE A SHERIFF, UNDER-SHERIFF, COMMISSIONER
OF POLICE, CHIEF OF POLICE, DEPUTY OR ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE OR ANY
PERSON HAVING AN EQUIVALENT TITLE WHO IS APPOINTED OR EMPLOYED BY A
MUNICIPALITY TO EXERCISE EQUIVALENT SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY.
2. ADMINISTRATION. (A) THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY
OF NEW YORK AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER THE TUITION EXEMPTION FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL BE OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY TO
ACTIVE-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE TO MAINTAIN AND
INCREASE EMPLOYMENT LEVELS AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
(B) LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHICH EMPLOY POLICE OFFICERS WHICH APPLY
FOR AND RECEIVE SUCH TUITION EXEMPTIONS SHALL MONITOR AND ENFORCE THE
COMMITMENTS OUTLINED IN THIS SECTION.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03670-01-5
A. 4205 2
(C) THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW
YORK SHALL COORDINATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO VERIFY ENROLLMENT
AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE TUITION EXEMPTION UNDER THIS SECTION.
(D) THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW
YORK SHALL COORDINATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AN APPLI-
CATION PROCESS FOR THE TUITION EXEMPTION UNDER THIS SECTION.
(E) IF THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF A PARTICIPATING POLICE OFFICER IS
LESS THAN 3.0, THEN SUCH OFFICER SHALL BE PLACED ON PROBATION FROM THE
TUITION EXEMPTION PROGRAM FOR ONE SEMESTER. IF THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE
DOES NOT RETURN TO 3.0 OR GREATER WITHIN ONE SEMESTER, THEN SUCH OFFICER
SHALL BECOME INELIGIBLE FOR THE TUITION EXEMPTION PROGRAM.
3. TUITION EXEMPTION. POLICE OFFICERS ENROLLED IN FULL-TIME OR PART-
TIME DEGREE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT BEARING PROGRAMS,
AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK,
INCLUDING COMMUNITY COLLEGES, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM TUITION AND FEES FOR
THE DURATION OF THEIR ENROLLMENT. SUCH TUITION EXEMPTION SHALL BE
APPLIED TO THE COST OF ANY COURSES OR PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE STATE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.
4. COMMITMENT TO SERVICE. (A) ANY POLICE OFFICER BENEFITING FROM THE
TUITION EXEMPTION UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL COMMIT TO SERVING A STATE OR
MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR A MINIMUM PERIOD OF:
(I) FIVE YEARS IF ENROLLED IN AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR WORKFORCE PROGRAM
OR UNTIL THE CRITERIA FOR RETIREMENT FROM SUCH OFFICE ARE MET.
(II) TEN YEARS IF ENROLLED IN AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OR UNTIL THE
CRITERIA FOR RETIREMENT FROM SUCH OFFICE ARE MET.
(III) FIVE YEARS IF ENROLLED IN A GRADUATE DEGREE OR UNTIL THE CRITE-
RIA FOR RETIREMENT FROM SUCH OFFICE ARE MET.
(B) FAILURE TO FULFILL THE COMMITMENT OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF
THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL RESULT IN SUCH POLICE OFFICER BEING OBLIGATED TO
REPAY A PROPORTIONAL AMOUNT OF THE TUITION WAIVED, BASED ON THE NUMBER
OF YEARS SERVED.
(I) IF THE EMPLOYMENT OF A POLICE OFFICER IS TERMINATED WITH THEIR
RESPECTIVE AGENCY BEFORE COMPLETING THE COMMITMENT PERIOD SPECIFIED IN
THIS SUBDIVISION, SUCH OFFICER SHALL REPAY A PRORATED AMOUNT OF THE
TUITION WAIVED TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR THE CITY UNIVERSI-
TY OF NEW YORK.
(II) THE PRORATED REPAYMENT SPECIFIED IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE
MADE WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD DETERMINED BY THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF
NEW YORK OR THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK FOLLOWING SUCH POLICE OFFI-
CER'S TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIGNATION.
(C) SHOULD SUCH POLICE OFFICER BE INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY OR
REMOVED FROM THEIR OFFICE DUE TO MEDICAL NECESSITY, THE COMMITMENT TO
SERVICE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MET IN FULL. THE AGENCY BY WHICH
SUCH POLICE OFFICER IS EMPLOYED SHALL SUBMIT PROOF OF INJURY OR MEDICAL
LEAVE TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW
YORK.
5. FUNDING. THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY
OF NEW YORK ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A POLICE OFFICER TUITION
EXEMPTION ACCOUNT TO SUPPORT THIS SECTION. ANY COSTS INCURRED BY THE
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK FROM
SUCH TUITION EXEMPTION ACCOUNT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FROM THE GENERAL
FUND.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.