Rpld S661 sub 3, sub 4 b-1 sub (i), sub 5 a & b, amd SS661, 355, 6206, 6305, 6451, 6452, 6455 & 695-e, Ed L
 
Establishes the New York state dream act; provides certain higher education eligibility benefits to undocumented immigrants that satisfy certain criteria.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A22
SPONSOR: Moya (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the
New York state dream act; and to repeal certain provisions of such law
relating thereto
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To provide access to state, city,
town and/or village-funded financial aid programs, including, but not
limited to grants, loans and scholarships.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 entitles the bill the "New York State Dream Act".
Section 2 of the bill amends Education Law § 661(3) and sets forth the
qualifications for an undocumented student to take advantage of scholar-
ship programs administered by the state. Section 2 creates and defines
the term "Qualified Students" which establishes the eligibility require-
ments for applicants for loans and award at the undergraduate and gradu-
ate level of study. This definition of "Qualified Students" expands the
eligibility requirements to people without lawful immigration status as
long as they fulfill the other requirements outlined by the statute.
Section 3 of the bill repeals Education Law § 661(4)(b-1)(1), which
establishes a citizenship requirement for the tuition assistance
program.
Section 4 of the bill repeals Education Law § 661(5)(a) and (b).
Section 5 of the bill amends Education Law § 661(5)(d) to clarify that
if an applicant for tuition assistance does not have a New York State
residence, the applicant shall be deemed to reside in the geographic
area of the institution of higher education in which he or she attends
for purposes of an award allocated on a geographic basis.
Section 6 of the bill amends Education Law § 661(5)(e) so that any
member, or the spouse or dependent of a member, of the armed forces of
the United States on full-time active duty and stationed in this state
is eligible for awards and loans, regardless of whether or not they are
a "Qualified Student."
Section 7 of the bill would add a new Education Law § 355(2)(11)(10) to
provide that Qualified Students at SUNY may have the payment of tuition
and other fees and charges reduced by loans and awards.
Section 8 of the bill adds a new Education Law § 6206(7)(d) to provide
that Qualified Students at CUNY may have the payment of tuition and
other fees and charges reduced by loans and awards.
Section 9 of the bill adds a new Education Law § 6305(8-a) to provide
that Qualified Students at community colleges may have the payment of
tuition and other fees and charges reduced by loans and awards.
Sections 10 and 11 of the bill amend Education Law §§ 6451(3)(d) and
6452(4)(v) to allow undocumented students who participate in the higher
education programs to receive supplemental financial assistance provided
that the student meets the requirements in Education Law 661(3)(a)(ii)
or (b)(ii).
Section 12 of the bill amends Education Law § 6455(2)(a) to allow an
undergraduate applicant for the college science and technology entry
program who is not a resident of the state to be eligible for an award
at the undergraduate level of study provided that he or she is a "Quali-
fied Student" as defined in Education Law § 661(3), as amended by
Section 2 of this bill.
Section 13 of the bill amends Education Law § 6455(3)(a) to provide that
Qualified Students at the graduate level of study may have the payment
of tuition and other fees and charges reduced by loans and awards.
Section 14 of the bill amends Education Law §§ 695-e(2)(a)(i) and
(a)(iii) to allow individuals with a taxpayer identification number
(ITIN) to open a family tuition account and/or be a designated benefici-
ary under the New York State College Tuition Savings Program, unless the
account was in effect prior to the effective date of this chapter does
not allow for an ITIN, in which case an ITIN shall be allowed upon expi-
ration of the contract.
Section 15 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION: As a state with one of the largest immigrant popu-
lations, NY should be at the forefront of progressive immigration poli-
cies, pushing back on the tide of national and local anti-immigrant
policies. The NY Dream Act will respect the dignity and contributions of
undocumented youth in the state by giving them access to state financial
aid programs.
This bill is about access to education, but it is also about providing a
pathway to economic prosperity for both the individual receiving the
education and for the state. Increasing the education level of workers
also increases their productivity, and the more highly educated the
state's labor force, the more attractive the state is as a place to
locate business.
There are currently an estimated 475,000 undocumented immigrants in the
New York State labor force. Having large numbers of undocumented workers
should not be considered a permanent situation; federal reform is
urgently needed to fix immigration policy. But gridlock at the federal
level should not prevent New York State from investing in its own econo-
my.
The National Skills Coalition (NSC) reports that New York is facing a
shortage of workers who have the required skill level for most job
openings. New York would benefit greatly from undocumented students
receiving access to a college education. In fact, NSC also estimates
that 39% of all future job openings will require at least an associate's
degree.
Furthermore, it is universally accepted that those who pay taxes should
benefit from those taxes, whether those benefits be public safety or
access to higher education. According to the Institute for Taxation and
Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants paid over $662 million in taxes
to New York State in 2010, making it the state with the fourth highest
revenue in taxes from undocumented immigrants. They paid approximately;
$104.4 million in personal income taxes, $95 million in property taxes,
and over $463 million in sales taxes.
Despite an unprecedented year of action taken by undocumented youth, the
United States Congress failed to pass the DREAM Act in 2010. This has
left undocumented youth in NY without any form of relief, It is now up
to the State of NY to provide dignity and recognition for these promis-
ing and deserving young people.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
01/04/12 referred to governmental operations
04/04/11 referred to governmental operations
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: As per the analysis of the Fiscal Policy Insti-
tute as well as the State Education Department, it is estimated that
this legislation will only cost an additional 1% or 2% of current TAP
funding.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2014.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
22
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 9, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MOYA, CRESPO, RIVERA, KIM, FARRELL, AUBRY,
CASTRO, WEPRIN, JAFFEE, BRENNAN, THIELE, ROBERTS, GIBSON, LAVINE,
ORTIZ, KAVANAGH, O'DONNELL, SCARBOROUGH, ROBINSON, BENEDETTO, SIMOTAS,
ROSENTHAL, BOYLAND, STEVENSON, PERRY, MAISEL, SCHIMEL, CAHILL, RAMOS,
ESPINAL, CLARK, MILLER, DenDEKKER, ARROYO, KELLNER, PAULIN -- Multi-
Sponsored by -- M. of A. CYMBROWITZ, DINOWITZ, GOTTFRIED, HOOPER,
LIFTON, MILLMAN, NOLAN, RUSSELL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the New York state
dream act; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating ther-
eto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "New York state dream act".
3 § 2. Subdivision 3 of section 661 of the education law is REPEALED and
4 a new subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
5 3. Qualifications. a. Qualified student for an award at the undergrad-
6 uate level of study. A qualified student for an award at the undergradu-
7 ate level of study shall mean:
8 (i) an individual, other than one deemed to be not lawfully present in
9 the United States as used in 8 U.S.C. § 1623, who has been a resident of
10 the state for at least one year immediately preceding the beginning of
11 the semester, quarter or term of attendance for which application for
12 assistance is made; or
13 (ii) an individual, other than one deemed to be not lawfully present
14 in the United States as used in 8 U.S.C. § 1623, who is a resident of
15 the state and was a resident of the state during his or her last two
16 semesters of high school either prior to graduation, or prior to admis-
17 sion to college; or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00278-01-3
A. 22 2
1 (iii) an individual who:
2 (1) attended an approved New York high school for two or more years,
3 graduated from an approved New York high school, and applied for attend-
4 ance at an institution or educational unit of the state university with-
5 in five years of receiving a New York state high school diploma; or
6 (2) attended an approved New York state program for general equivalen-
7 cy diploma exam preparation, received a general equivalency diploma
8 issued within New York state, and applied for attendance at an institu-
9 tion or educational unit of the state university within five years of
10 receiving a general equivalency diploma issued within New York state; or
11 (3) is otherwise eligible for the payment of tuition and fees at a
12 rate no greater than that imposed for resident students of the state
13 university of New York, the city university of New York or community
14 colleges as prescribed in subparagraph eight of paragraph h of subdivi-
15 sion two of section three hundred fifty-five or paragraph (a) of subdi-
16 vision seven of section sixty-two hundred six of this chapter.
17 In addition to clauses one, two, and three of this subparagraph, if
18 the individual is deemed to be not lawfully present in the United States
19 as used in 8 U.S.C. § 1623, then such individual must have entered the
20 United States before the age of eighteen and be under the age of thir-
21 ty-five at the time of application for loans and awards.
22 b. Qualified student for an award at the graduate level of study. A
23 qualified student for an award at the graduate level of study shall
24 mean:
25 (i) an individual, other than one deemed to be not lawfully present in
26 the United States as used in 8 U.S.C. § 1623, who has been a resident of
27 the state for at least one year immediately preceding the beginning of
28 the semester, quarter or term of attendance for which application for
29 assistance is made; or
30 (ii) an individual, other than one deemed to be not lawfully present
31 in the United States as used in 8 U.S.C. § 1623, who is a resident of
32 the state and was a resident of the state during his or her last two
33 semesters of high school either prior to graduation, or prior to admis-
34 sion to college; or
35 (iii) an individual who:
36 (1) attended an approved New York state high school for two or more
37 years, graduated from an approved New York state high school, and
38 applied for attendance at the institution of higher education for the
39 graduate study for which an award is sought within ten years of receiv-
40 ing a New York state high school diploma; or
41 (2) attended an approved New York state program for a state high
42 school equivalency diploma, received a state high school equivalency
43 diploma, and applied for attendance at the institution of higher educa-
44 tion for the graduate study for which an award is sought within ten
45 years of receiving a state high school equivalency diploma; or
46 (3) is otherwise eligible for the payment of tuition and fees at a
47 rate no greater than that imposed for resident students of the state
48 university of New York, the city university of New York or community
49 colleges as prescribed in subparagraph eight of paragraph h of subdivi-
50 sion two of section three hundred fifty-five or paragraph (a) of subdi-
51 vision seven of section sixty-two hundred six of this chapter.
52 In addition to clauses one, two, and three of this subparagraph, if
53 the individual is deemed to be not lawfully present in the United States
54 as used in 8 U.S.C. § 1623, then such individual must have entered the
55 United States before the age of eighteen and be under the age of thir-
56 ty-five at the time of application for loans and awards.
A. 22 3
1 c. Notwithstanding subparagraph (iii) of paragraph a of this subdivi-
2 sion, an individual shall be deemed a qualified student for an award at
3 the undergraduate level of study for a period of five years immediately
4 following the implementation of the New York state dream act provided
5 that the individual:
6 (i) attended an approved New York high school for two or more years,
7 graduated from an approved New York high school, and applied for attend-
8 ance or is enrolled at an institution or educational unit of the state
9 university; or
10 (ii) attended an approved New York state program for general equiv-
11 alency diploma exam preparation, received a general equivalency diploma
12 issued within New York state, and applied for attendance or is enrolled
13 at an institution or educational unit of the state university.
14 In addition to subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, if the
15 individual is deemed to be not lawfully present in the United States as
16 used in 8 U.S.C. § 1623, then such individual must have entered the
17 United States before the age of eighteen and be under the age of thir-
18 ty-five at the time of application for loans and awards.
19 d. Notwithstanding subparagraph (iii) of paragraph b of this subdivi-
20 sion, an individual shall be deemed a qualified student for an award at
21 the graduate level of study for a period of ten years immediately
22 following the implementation of the New York state dream act provided
23 that the individual:
24 (i) attended an approved New York high school for two or more years,
25 graduated from an approved New York high school, and applied for attend-
26 ance or is enrolled at an institution or educational unit of the state
27 university; or
28 (ii) attended an approved New York state program for general equiv-
29 alency diploma exam preparation, received a general equivalency diploma
30 issued within New York state, and applied for attendance or is enrolled
31 at an institution or educational unit of the state university;
32 In addition to subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, if the
33 individual is deemed to be not lawfully present in the United States as
34 used in 8 U.S.C. § 1623, then such individual must have entered the
35 United States before the age of eighteen and be under the age of thir-
36 ty-five at the time of application for loans and awards.
37 § 3. Subparagraph (i) of paragraph b-1 of subdivision 4 of section 661
38 of the education law is REPEALED.
39 § 4. Paragraphs a and b of subdivision 5 of section 661 of the educa-
40 tion law are REPEALED.
41 § 5. Paragraph d of subdivision 5 of section 661 of the education law,
42 as amended by chapter 844 of the laws of 1975, is amended to read as
43 follows:
44 d. If an applicant for an award allocated on a geographic basis has
45 more than one residence in this state, his or her residence for the
46 purpose of this article shall be his or her place of actual residence
47 during the major part of the year while attending school, as determined
48 by the commissioner; and further provided that an applicant who does not
49 have a residence in this state and is eligible for an award pursuant to
50 paragraph a, b, c or d of subdivision three of this section shall be
51 deemed to reside in the geographic area of the institution of higher
52 education in which he or she attends for purposes of an award allocated
53 on a geographic basis.
54 § 6. Paragraph e of subdivision 5 of section 661 of the education law,
55 as added by chapter 630 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as
56 follows:
A. 22 4
1 e. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contra-
2 ry, the New York state [residency] eligibility [requirement] require-
3 ments for receipt of awards set forth in paragraph a, b, c or d of
4 subdivision three of this section is waived for a member, or the spouse
5 or dependent of a member, of the armed forces of the United States on
6 full-time active duty and stationed in this state.
7 § 7. Paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education law
8 is amended by adding a new subparagraph 10 to read as follows:
9 (10) Such regulations shall further provide that any student who is
10 not a resident of New York state but is a "qualified student" as defined
11 in paragraph a, b, c or d of subdivision three of section six hundred
12 sixty-one of this chapter, may have the payment of tuition and other
13 fees and charges reduced by state-aided programs, scholarships or other
14 financial assistance awarded under the provisions of articles thirteen,
15 thirteen-a, fourteen and fourteen-a of this chapter.
16 § 8. Subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law is amended by
17 adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
18 (d) The trustees shall further provide that any student who is not a
19 resident of New York state but is a "qualified student" as defined in
20 paragraph a, b, c or d of subdivision three of section six hundred
21 sixty-one of this chapter, may have the payment of tuition and other
22 fees and charges reduced by state-aided programs, scholarships or other
23 financial assistance awarded under the provisions of articles thirteen,
24 thirteen-a, fourteen and fourteen-a of this chapter.
25 § 9. Section 6305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
26 subdivision 8-a to read as follows:
27 8-a. The payment of tuition and other fees and charges of a student
28 who is attending a community college and who is not a resident of New
29 York state but is a "qualified student" as defined in paragraph a, b, c
30 or d of subdivision three of section six hundred sixty-one of this chap-
31 ter, may be reduced by state-aided programs, scholarships and other
32 financial assistance awarded under the provisions of articles thirteen,
33 thirteen-a, fourteen and fourteen-a or any other article of this chap-
34 ter.
35 § 10. Paragraph d of subdivision 3 of section 6451 of the education
36 law, as amended by chapter 149 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read
37 as follows:
38 d. Any necessary supplemental financial assistance, which may include
39 the cost of books and necessary maintenance for such enrolled students,
40 including students without lawful immigration status provided that the
41 student is a "qualified student" as defined in paragraph a, b, c or d of
42 subdivision three of section six hundred sixty-one of this chapter;
43 provided, however, that such supplemental financial assistance shall be
44 furnished pursuant to criteria promulgated by the commissioner with the
45 approval of the director of the budget.
46 § 11. Subparagraph (v) of paragraph a of subdivision 4 of section 6452
47 of the education law, as added by chapter 917 of the laws of 1970, is
48 amended to read as follows:
49 (v) Any necessary supplemental financial assistance, which may include
50 the cost of books and necessary maintenance for such students, including
51 students without lawful immigration status provided that the student is
52 a "qualified student" as defined in paragraph a, b, c or d of subdivi-
53 sion three of section six hundred sixty-one of this chapter; provided,
54 however, that such supplemental financial assistance shall be furnished
55 pursuant to criteria promulgated by such universities and approved by
56 the regents and the director of the budget.
A. 22 5
1 § 12. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 6455 of the education
2 law, as added by chapter 285 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 (a) Undergraduate science and technology entry program moneys may be
5 used for tutoring, counseling, remedial and special summer courses,
6 supplemental financial assistance, program administration, and other
7 activities which the commissioner may deem appropriate. To be eligible
8 for undergraduate collegiate science and technology entry program
9 support, a student must be [a resident of New York who is] a "qualified
10 student" pursuant to paragraph a or paragraph c of subdivision three of
11 section six hundred sixty-one of this chapter and must be either econom-
12 ically disadvantaged or from a minority group historically underrepre-
13 sented in the scientific, technical, health and health-related
14 professions, and [who demonstrates] must demonstrate interest in and a
15 potential for a professional career if provided special services. Eligi-
16 ble students must be in good academic standing, enrolled full time in an
17 approved, undergraduate level program of study, as defined by the
18 regents.
19 § 13. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 6455 of the education
20 law, as added by chapter 285 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as
21 follows:
22 (a) Graduate science and technology entry program moneys may be used
23 for recruitment, academic enrichment, career planning, supplemental
24 financial assistance, review for licensing examinations, program admin-
25 istration, and other activities which the commissioner may deem appro-
26 priate. To be eligible for graduate collegiate science and technology
27 entry program support, a student must be [a resident of New York who is]
28 a "qualified student" pursuant to paragraph b or paragraph d of subdivi-
29 sion three of section six hundred sixty-one of this chapter and must be
30 either economically disadvantaged or from a minority group historically
31 underrepresented in the scientific, technical and health-related
32 professions and must demonstrate an interest in and a potential for a
33 professional career if provided special services. Eligible students
34 must be in good academic standing, enrolled full time in an approved
35 graduate level program, as defined by the regents.
36 § 14. Subparagraphs (i) and (iii) of paragraph a of subdivision 2 of
37 section 695-e of the education law, as amended by chapter 593 of the
38 laws of 2003, are amended to read as follows:
39 (i) the name, address and social security number [or], employer iden-
40 tification number or individual taxpayer identification number of the
41 account owner unless a family tuition account that was in effect prior
42 to the effective date of the New York state dream act does not allow for
43 a taxpayer identification number, in which case a taxpayer identifica-
44 tion number shall be allowed upon the expiration of the contract;
45 (iii) the name, address, and social security number, employer iden-
46 tification number, or individual taxpayer identification number of the
47 designated beneficiary, unless a family tuition account that was in
48 effect prior to the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two
49 thousand thirteen that amended this subparagraph does not allow for a
50 taxpayer identification number, in which case a taxpayer identification
51 number shall be allowed upon the expiration of the contract; and
52 § 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.