Creates the New York state public sector employee loan forgiveness program for graduates of SUNY or CUNY schools employed in a state or local public sector position.
Extends scholarship eligibility for certain scholarships to students who have a certificate of graduation from a recognized high school within New York state from the two thousand thirteen--fourteen school year or after, or the recognized equivalent of such certificate, or received a passing score on a federally approved ability to benefit test that has been identified by the board of regents as satisfying the eligibility requirements and has been independently administered and evaluated as defined by the commissioner of education.
This bill extends the timeframe for using tuition assistance awards from the current duration to five academic years total. It directly affects students receiving state tuition assistance by allowing them to access funds for up to five years of approved education programs. The key provision amends education law to specify that awards under this program must be available for five academic years in aggregate, rather than a shorter period. The change takes effect July 1st following enactment.
Relates to establishing the COVID-19 children scholarship; provides that children whose parent, primary caretaker or sibling died or was disabled as a result of contracting COVID-19 shall be eligible for such scholarship.
This bill modifies the existing New York State Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) incentive program. It provides tuition awards to eligible undergraduate students who graduate in the top ten percent of their New York high school class and enroll full-time in approved STEM programs at New York public or private colleges. The award covers tuition up to the State University of New York (SUNY) resident rate. However, the award converts to a student loan if the recipient does not complete their STEM degree or fails to work in a STEM field within New York state for five years after graduation. The legislative intent is to promote STEM education, help New York students compete globally, and involve business and industry in career development.
This bill establishes New York's Dental Faculty Loan Forgiveness Program to help attract and retain dental educators. Licensed dentists teaching at New York state dental schools who have completed faculty coursework and hold dental student loan debt may receive up to $40,000 annually in loan forgiveness for teaching 12+ academic credit hours per year, with a lifetime cap of $160,000. Eligibility requires current employment as a dental faculty member in New York, active dental licensure, and completion of qualifying faculty training. The program aims to increase the number of dental educators in the state by reducing student debt burdens for those entering academic roles.
Establishes a COVID-19 essential workers scholarship program to award annual scholarships to essential employees who worked during the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and children of essential employees who have died as a result of contracting COVID-19.
This bill expands New York's scholarship and loan forgiveness programs to include dentists and podiatrists on identical terms as physicians. It modifies existing education law to award Regents scholarships for dental and podiatric students and extends the physician loan forgiveness program to cover dentists and podiatrists who agree to practice in designated shortage areas. Participants must work in underserved regions for 12 months per year of funding received, with specific service requirements and reporting obligations. The policy directly affects dental and podiatric professionals seeking financial assistance for education or debt relief in New York State.
Relates to student financial aid programs; allows absence because of uniformed service, maternity/paternity, FMLA, or due to compensable injury to be creditable time.
Establishes the student loan borrower bill of rights to protect borrowers and ensure that student loan servicers act more as loan counselors than debt collectors.
