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Speaker Carl E. Heastie
 
     
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A09690 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
 submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)




 
BILL NUMBER: A9690
 
SPONSOR: Cashman

 
TITLE OF BILL:
 
An act to amend the education law, in relation to extending certain
benefits to active volunteer firefighters and active volunteer ambulance
workers
 
 
PURPOSE:
 
To extend existing tuition-free course audit benefits at state-operated
institutions and community colleges to active volunteer firefighters and
active volunteer ambulance workers.
 
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
 
Section 1 amends subparagraph 1 of paragraph (h) of subdivision 2 of
section 355 of the education law to permit active volunteer firefighters
and active volunteer ambulance workers to audit coarses at state-operat-
ed institutions without tuition, examination, grading, or credit, on a
space-available basis. The section further authorizes the State Univer-
sity trustees to promulgate regulations allowing institutions to grant
academic credit for successful completion of such audited courses by
qualifying volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.
 
Section 2 amends subdivision 5 of section 6303 of the education law to
extend identical tuition-free course audit and potential credit-granting
provisions to active volunteer firefighters and active volunteer ambu-
lance workers attending community colleges, while preserving existing
state aid provisions.
 
Section 3 provides that the act shall take effect on the ninetieth day
after it shall have become a law.
 
 
JUSTIFICATION:
 
The amended language of this bill expands access to higher education
benefits for individuals who provide essential volunteer emergency
services to their communities. By extending tuition-free audit privi-
leges and the potential for academic credit to active volunteer fire-
fighters and ambulance workers, the legislation recognizes their public
service contributions and supports workforce development and educational
advancement without displacing tuition-paying students.
 
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
 
04/08/25 referred to higher education
 
09/08/25 enacting clause stricken
 
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
To be determined.
 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.
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