Enacts the "pay it forward, pay it back" program; directs the board of trustees of the state university to identify two four-year institutions of the state university and two community colleges to participate in such program; offers free tuition for such institutions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
S. 1873 A. 2022
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2015
___________
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered print-
ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Educa-
tion
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, BROOK-KRASNY -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT in relation to enacting the "pay it forward, pay it back program"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "pay it
2 forward, pay it back program".
3 § 2. 1. The board of trustees of the state university shall implement
4 a program to permit any student who has been admitted to certain state-
5 operated institutions of the state university to attend without the
6 payment of tuition if such student fulfills the requirements of such
7 program pursuant to the provisions of this act. Such trustees shall
8 identify two four-year institutions of the state university and two
9 community colleges to participate in the "pay it forward, pay it back
10 program".
11 2. Such trustees shall provide an application process and administer
12 the program according to the following criteria:
13 (a) A student shall have been a resident of New York state for a peri-
14 od of one year prior to application.
15 (b) A student shall be required to sign a contract to pay the institu-
16 tion a certain percentage of the student's annual adjusted gross income
17 for a specified number of years. The trustees shall determine such
18 percentage and number of years based on the institution.
19 (c) Students shall be required to complete their degree program within
20 a minimum period of time to be set by the trustees which shall be no
21 less than two years and no more than four years.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07197-01-5
S. 1873 2 A. 2022
1 (d) If a student or former student fails to fulfill any of the
2 requirements set forth in this subdivision, the trustees shall convert
3 to a student loan the full amount of the tuition which would have been
4 paid by such student, as determined by the trustees, plus interest,
5 according to a schedule to be determined by the trustees. Such repay-
6 ment may also be required if a recipient fails to respond to requests
7 for information necessary to determine continued eligibility or for
8 administration of the program.
9 (e) Any student who elects to participate in the program under this
10 act shall be required to apply for federal Pell grant funding and
11 tuition assistance program funding. Funds awarded under either or both
12 such programs shall be applied towards the cost of tuition prior to an
13 award under this subparagraph.
14 (f) Students shall be responsible for all other costs including hous-
15 ing, fees and other non-tuition related charges.
16 § 3. The board of trustees of the state university shall establish an
17 immediate funding source for the "pay it forward, pay it back program"
18 and include the establishment of a revolving fund to deposit payments
19 made under such program.
20 § 4. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
21 the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that
22 effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
23 or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
24 tive date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or
25 before such effective date.
