Allows excelsior scholarship awards to be used for tuition and non-tuition expenses

This bill expands the Excelsior Scholarship program to allow recipients to use scholarship funds for room and board expenses, in addition to tuition. Previously, funds covered only tuition costs up to $5,500 annually. The bill specifies that after tuition is paid using other aid (like federal grants), any remaining scholarship amount can cover non-tuition costs like housing, without exceeding the $5,500 total limit. It directly affects New York students receiving the Excelsior Scholarship who face non-tuition education expenses. The change applies to all eligible students at participating public colleges and universities.