Legislation
SECTION 669-A
Veterans tuition awards program
Education (EDN) CHAPTER 16, TITLE 1, ARTICLE 14, PART 2, SUBPART 2
§ 669-a. Veterans tuition awards program. 1. As used in this section,
the following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "Vietnam veteran" means (i) a person who is a resident of this
state, (ii) who served in the armed forces of the United States in
Indochina at any time from the first day of November, nineteen hundred
fifty-five, to and including the seventh day of May, nineteen hundred
seventy-five, and (iii) who was either discharged therefrom under
honorable conditions, including but not limited to honorable discharge,
discharge under honorable conditions, or general discharge, or has a
qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans'
services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or
dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as
defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a
discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.
b. "Persian Gulf veteran" means (i) a person who is a resident of this
state (ii) who served in the armed forces of the United States in the
hostilities that occurred in the Persian Gulf from the second day of
August, nineteen hundred ninety through the end of such hostilities, and
(iii) who was either discharged therefrom under honorable conditions,
including but not limited to honorable discharge, discharge under
honorable conditions, or general discharge, or has a qualifying
condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from
such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one
of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than
bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.
c. "Afghanistan veteran" means (i) a person who is a resident of this
state (ii) who served in the armed forces of the United States in the
hostilities that occurred in Afghanistan from the eleventh day of
September, two thousand one, to the end of such hostilities, and (iii)
who was either discharged therefrom under honorable conditions,
including but not limited to honorable discharge, discharge under
honorable conditions, or general discharge, or has a qualifying
condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from
such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one
of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than
bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.
d. "Other eligible veteran" means: an individual who (i) is a resident
of this state, (ii) served in the armed forces of the United States (1)
on active duty for at least four years, or (2) in hostilities that
occurred after February twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred sixty-one, as
evidenced by their receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy
Expeditionary Medal, or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, and (iii) was
either discharged under honorable conditions, including but not limited
to honorable discharge, discharge under honorable conditions, or general
discharge, or has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of
the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad
conduct or dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT
veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from
such service.
e. "Part time study" means enrollment for at least three but less than
twelve semester hours per semester, or the equivalent, in an approved
undergraduate or graduate program.
f. "Approved vocational training programs" means programs offered by
agencies approved by the commissioner for funding pursuant to this
section. The commissioner shall approve only such non-credit programs
which are at least three hundred twenty clock hours in length, and which
meet standards of instructional quality established in regulations by
the commissioner. These standards shall include, but not be limited to,
qualifications of administrative and instructional personnel, quality of
facilities and equipment, recordkeeping, admission, grading, attendance,
and record of placement of completers which meets standards of
acceptability as established by the commissioner.
* g. "Eligible immediate family" means a person who is the spouse,
child or survivor of a qualified veteran, and who resides in this state.
* NB Effective July 1, 2026
* h. "Qualified veteran" means a veteran who would be eligible to
receive a tuition award if such veteran satisfied the enrollment and
application requirements set forth in paragraph a of subdivision two of
this section.
* NB Effective July 1, 2026
* i. "Survivor" means a person who: (i) was married to a qualified
veteran who died as a result of military service; or (ii) was married to
the qualified veteran within fifteen years of their discharge from
military service in which the cause of death, disease or injury started
or was aggravated; or (iii) was married to the veteran for at least one
year; or (iv) had a child with the qualified veteran and lived together
with the veteran continuously until the veteran's death or, if
separated, was not at fault for the separation.
* NB Effective July 1, 2026
2. a. Tuition awards are available for all Vietnam, Persian Gulf,
Afghanistan and other eligible veterans, as defined in subdivision one
of this section, who are enrolled, pursuant to paragraph a of
subdivision four of section six hundred sixty-one of this part, in
approved undergraduate or graduate programs at degree granting
institutions or enrolled in approved vocational training programs and
who apply for a tuition assistance program award, for up to the
equivalent of eight full-time semesters, pursuant to section six hundred
sixty-seven of this subpart.
b. Eligibility for awards under this section shall be established as
of the date the application is received by the corporation. All eligible
recipients shall receive an award in an amount as set forth in
subdivision four of this section.
3. a. No recipient shall receive awards for more than eight semesters
of full time undergraduate study, or the equivalent of four academic
years, or, if an undergraduate program normally requires five academic
years of full time study, for more than ten semesters of full time
study, or the equivalent of five academic years. Recipients enrolled in
a program of remedial study conforming to the provisions of this
article, approved by the commissioner in a degree granting institution,
and intended to culminate in an undergraduate degree shall be considered
as enrolled in a program normally requiring five years. No recipient
enrolled in an approved vocational training program shall receive awards
for more than four semesters of full-time study or the equivalent of two
academic years of full-time study.
b. No recipient shall receive awards for more than sixteen semesters
of part time undergraduate study as defined in subdivision one, or the
equivalent of eight academic years of part time study, or, if an
undergraduate program normally requires five academic years of full time
study, for more than twenty semesters of part time study, or the
equivalent of ten academic years. Recipients enrolled in a program of
remedial study conforming to the provisions of this chapter, approved by
the commissioner in a degree granting institution, and intended to
culminate in an undergraduate degree shall be considered as enrolled in
a program normally requiring five years. No recipient enrolled in an
approved vocational training program shall receive awards for more than
eight semesters of part-time study or the equivalent of four academic
years of part-time study.
c. No recipient shall receive awards for more than six semesters of
full time study, or the equivalent of three academic years, for graduate
study. No recipient shall receive awards for more than twelve semesters
of part time graduate study as defined in subdivision one of this
section, or the equivalent of six academic years of part time graduate
study.
4. Every recipient shall receive an award equal to the amount of
undergraduate tuition for residents of New York state charged by the
state university of New York or actual tuition charged, whichever is
less, for each semester, or the equivalent, of full time study, or a
pro-rated amount for part-time study; provided, however, that such award
shall not be reduced by any benefits available under the federal
Montgomery GI Bill act of 1984 or the federal Pell grant program
pursuant to section one thousand seventy-a of title twenty of the United
States code.
* 5. a. A qualified veteran who would be eligible to receive a tuition
award if such veteran satisfied the enrollment and application
requirements set forth in paragraph a of subdivision two of this
section, but has not utilized such tuition award, may elect to transfer
all or a portion of the tuition award to an eligible immediate family
member or members.
b. A qualified veteran who elects to transfer their award shall
designate the eligible immediate family member or members to whom such
award is being transferred, including the number of semesters. Such
designation shall be made on a form prescribed by the president, shall
be appended to the application specified in subdivision two of this
section, and the president shall make the form and relevant information
of this section available on the corporation's website.
c. A child to whom a tuition award is transferred under this
subdivision shall be under twenty-six years of age. Such child shall not
commence the use of a tuition award transferred under this subdivision
unless the qualified veteran has served in the armed forces of the
United States for at least ten years, except where such qualified
veteran did not complete such service requirement due to:
(i) the qualified veteran's death;
(ii) discharge or release for a medical condition that pre-existed
service;
(iii) discharge or release for hardship;
(iv) discharge or release for a physical or mental condition, not a
disability, that did not result from their willful misconduct but did
interfere with their performance of duty;
(v) discharge for a disability;
(vi) discharge for a reduction in force; or
(vii) involuntary force shaping.
d. The tuition award transfers designated by a qualified veteran
pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed the award available to
such veteran under this section.
e. The number of tuition award transfers under this subdivision shall
not exceed one hundred per year.
* NB Effective July 1, 2026
the following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "Vietnam veteran" means (i) a person who is a resident of this
state, (ii) who served in the armed forces of the United States in
Indochina at any time from the first day of November, nineteen hundred
fifty-five, to and including the seventh day of May, nineteen hundred
seventy-five, and (iii) who was either discharged therefrom under
honorable conditions, including but not limited to honorable discharge,
discharge under honorable conditions, or general discharge, or has a
qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans'
services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or
dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as
defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a
discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.
b. "Persian Gulf veteran" means (i) a person who is a resident of this
state (ii) who served in the armed forces of the United States in the
hostilities that occurred in the Persian Gulf from the second day of
August, nineteen hundred ninety through the end of such hostilities, and
(iii) who was either discharged therefrom under honorable conditions,
including but not limited to honorable discharge, discharge under
honorable conditions, or general discharge, or has a qualifying
condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from
such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one
of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than
bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.
c. "Afghanistan veteran" means (i) a person who is a resident of this
state (ii) who served in the armed forces of the United States in the
hostilities that occurred in Afghanistan from the eleventh day of
September, two thousand one, to the end of such hostilities, and (iii)
who was either discharged therefrom under honorable conditions,
including but not limited to honorable discharge, discharge under
honorable conditions, or general discharge, or has a qualifying
condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from
such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one
of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than
bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.
d. "Other eligible veteran" means: an individual who (i) is a resident
of this state, (ii) served in the armed forces of the United States (1)
on active duty for at least four years, or (2) in hostilities that
occurred after February twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred sixty-one, as
evidenced by their receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy
Expeditionary Medal, or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, and (iii) was
either discharged under honorable conditions, including but not limited
to honorable discharge, discharge under honorable conditions, or general
discharge, or has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of
the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad
conduct or dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT
veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and
has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from
such service.
e. "Part time study" means enrollment for at least three but less than
twelve semester hours per semester, or the equivalent, in an approved
undergraduate or graduate program.
f. "Approved vocational training programs" means programs offered by
agencies approved by the commissioner for funding pursuant to this
section. The commissioner shall approve only such non-credit programs
which are at least three hundred twenty clock hours in length, and which
meet standards of instructional quality established in regulations by
the commissioner. These standards shall include, but not be limited to,
qualifications of administrative and instructional personnel, quality of
facilities and equipment, recordkeeping, admission, grading, attendance,
and record of placement of completers which meets standards of
acceptability as established by the commissioner.
* g. "Eligible immediate family" means a person who is the spouse,
child or survivor of a qualified veteran, and who resides in this state.
* NB Effective July 1, 2026
* h. "Qualified veteran" means a veteran who would be eligible to
receive a tuition award if such veteran satisfied the enrollment and
application requirements set forth in paragraph a of subdivision two of
this section.
* NB Effective July 1, 2026
* i. "Survivor" means a person who: (i) was married to a qualified
veteran who died as a result of military service; or (ii) was married to
the qualified veteran within fifteen years of their discharge from
military service in which the cause of death, disease or injury started
or was aggravated; or (iii) was married to the veteran for at least one
year; or (iv) had a child with the qualified veteran and lived together
with the veteran continuously until the veteran's death or, if
separated, was not at fault for the separation.
* NB Effective July 1, 2026
2. a. Tuition awards are available for all Vietnam, Persian Gulf,
Afghanistan and other eligible veterans, as defined in subdivision one
of this section, who are enrolled, pursuant to paragraph a of
subdivision four of section six hundred sixty-one of this part, in
approved undergraduate or graduate programs at degree granting
institutions or enrolled in approved vocational training programs and
who apply for a tuition assistance program award, for up to the
equivalent of eight full-time semesters, pursuant to section six hundred
sixty-seven of this subpart.
b. Eligibility for awards under this section shall be established as
of the date the application is received by the corporation. All eligible
recipients shall receive an award in an amount as set forth in
subdivision four of this section.
3. a. No recipient shall receive awards for more than eight semesters
of full time undergraduate study, or the equivalent of four academic
years, or, if an undergraduate program normally requires five academic
years of full time study, for more than ten semesters of full time
study, or the equivalent of five academic years. Recipients enrolled in
a program of remedial study conforming to the provisions of this
article, approved by the commissioner in a degree granting institution,
and intended to culminate in an undergraduate degree shall be considered
as enrolled in a program normally requiring five years. No recipient
enrolled in an approved vocational training program shall receive awards
for more than four semesters of full-time study or the equivalent of two
academic years of full-time study.
b. No recipient shall receive awards for more than sixteen semesters
of part time undergraduate study as defined in subdivision one, or the
equivalent of eight academic years of part time study, or, if an
undergraduate program normally requires five academic years of full time
study, for more than twenty semesters of part time study, or the
equivalent of ten academic years. Recipients enrolled in a program of
remedial study conforming to the provisions of this chapter, approved by
the commissioner in a degree granting institution, and intended to
culminate in an undergraduate degree shall be considered as enrolled in
a program normally requiring five years. No recipient enrolled in an
approved vocational training program shall receive awards for more than
eight semesters of part-time study or the equivalent of four academic
years of part-time study.
c. No recipient shall receive awards for more than six semesters of
full time study, or the equivalent of three academic years, for graduate
study. No recipient shall receive awards for more than twelve semesters
of part time graduate study as defined in subdivision one of this
section, or the equivalent of six academic years of part time graduate
study.
4. Every recipient shall receive an award equal to the amount of
undergraduate tuition for residents of New York state charged by the
state university of New York or actual tuition charged, whichever is
less, for each semester, or the equivalent, of full time study, or a
pro-rated amount for part-time study; provided, however, that such award
shall not be reduced by any benefits available under the federal
Montgomery GI Bill act of 1984 or the federal Pell grant program
pursuant to section one thousand seventy-a of title twenty of the United
States code.
* 5. a. A qualified veteran who would be eligible to receive a tuition
award if such veteran satisfied the enrollment and application
requirements set forth in paragraph a of subdivision two of this
section, but has not utilized such tuition award, may elect to transfer
all or a portion of the tuition award to an eligible immediate family
member or members.
b. A qualified veteran who elects to transfer their award shall
designate the eligible immediate family member or members to whom such
award is being transferred, including the number of semesters. Such
designation shall be made on a form prescribed by the president, shall
be appended to the application specified in subdivision two of this
section, and the president shall make the form and relevant information
of this section available on the corporation's website.
c. A child to whom a tuition award is transferred under this
subdivision shall be under twenty-six years of age. Such child shall not
commence the use of a tuition award transferred under this subdivision
unless the qualified veteran has served in the armed forces of the
United States for at least ten years, except where such qualified
veteran did not complete such service requirement due to:
(i) the qualified veteran's death;
(ii) discharge or release for a medical condition that pre-existed
service;
(iii) discharge or release for hardship;
(iv) discharge or release for a physical or mental condition, not a
disability, that did not result from their willful misconduct but did
interfere with their performance of duty;
(v) discharge for a disability;
(vi) discharge for a reduction in force; or
(vii) involuntary force shaping.
d. The tuition award transfers designated by a qualified veteran
pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed the award available to
such veteran under this section.
e. The number of tuition award transfers under this subdivision shall
not exceed one hundred per year.
* NB Effective July 1, 2026