STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6637
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 23, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FRONTUS -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the
essential New York scholarship program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 669-i
2 to read as follows:
3 § 669-i. Essential New York scholarship program. 1. Eligible groups.
4 Notwithstanding subdivision five of section six hundred sixty-one of
5 this article, individuals who are employed performing essential services
6 shall be eligible to receive a scholarship. Such individuals shall have
7 performed an essential service for a period of at least ninety days from
8 March seventh, two thousand twenty until the commencement date of phase
9 four of the state's reopening plan in the county or region in which the
10 individual resides, and shall not have been dismissed for cause. "Essen-
11 tial services", as used in this section, shall have the same meaning as
12 it is defined pursuant to the governor's guidance on essential services
13 under executive order two hundred two of two thousand twenty.
14 2. Amount. (a) The president shall grant annual scholarships in the
15 following amounts:
16 (1) If the recipient attends an institution of the city university of
17 New York or an institution of the state university of New York other
18 than the statutory colleges at Cornell, the college of environmental
19 science and forestry at Syracuse and the college of ceramics at Alfred,
20 the annual award shall be an amount equal to: the tuition charged at
21 such institution provided that, notwithstanding any provision of law to
22 the contrary, the tuition charged to award recipients shall not exceed
23 that charged to state resident students attending such institution; the
24 mandatory fees charged at such institution; and the non-tuition cost of
25 attendance at such institution or college, provided that the scholarship
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06191-01-1
A. 6637 2
1 shall not exceed an amount that is equal to the total cost of attendance
2 determined for federal Title IV student financial aid purposes, less all
3 other scholarships and grants provided by New York state, other states,
4 the federal government, or other governments, and the amount of educa-
5 tional benefits paid under any program that would duplicate the purposes
6 of this program, provided that any scholarships or grants provided to a
7 recipient by the institution which are intended to fund any portion of
8 the difference between the annual state award and the actual costs of
9 attendance at any such institution shall not be considered to duplicate
10 the purposes of this program; or
11 (2) If the recipient attends any other approved program within New
12 York state, the annual award shall be based upon an amount equal to: the
13 tuition charged to state resident students attending a four-year college
14 of the state university of New York; the average mandatory fees charged
15 at four-year colleges of the state university of New York, or the actual
16 tuition and fees charged to the recipient, whichever is less; and the
17 average non-tuition cost of attendance, as determined by the president
18 and as approved by the director of the budget, for a student at the
19 state university of New York or actual non-tuition cost of attendance at
20 such institution, whichever is less, provided that the scholarship shall
21 not exceed an amount that is equal to the total cost of attendance
22 determined for federal Title IV student financial aid purposes, less all
23 other scholarships and grants provided by New York state, other states,
24 the federal government, or other governments, and the amount of educa-
25 tional benefits paid under any program that would duplicate the purposes
26 of this program, provided that any scholarships or grants provided to a
27 recipient by the institution which are intended to fund any portion of
28 the difference between the annual state award and the actual costs of
29 attendance at any such institution shall not be considered to duplicate
30 the purposes of this program.
31 (b) "Non-tuition cost of attendance", as used in this section, shall
32 mean: (i) the actual amount charged by the institution for room and
33 board, and (ii) an allowance for transportation, books and supplies as
34 determined by the president and as approved by the director of the budg-
35 et, provided that such determination shall be made no later than Decem-
36 ber first of each year for use in the succeeding academic year. In the
37 event a student does not incur room or board charges at the institution,
38 "non-tuition cost of attendance" shall mean an allowance for room and
39 board as determined by the president and approved by the director of the
40 budget. In determining allowances pursuant to this subparagraph, the
41 president may take into consideration the allowances provided for in the
42 Pell grant program.
43 (c) In no event shall the combination of all student financial aid
44 received by a student exceed a recipient's total cost of attendance at
45 the institution being attended.
46 3. Duration. Awards under this section shall be payable for each of
47 not more than four academic years of undergraduate study or five academ-
48 ic years if a program normally requires five years, as defined by the
49 commissioner pursuant to article thirteen of this title.
50 § 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022.
