Enacts the "licensure incentives and fee-support for testing (LIFT) act"; establishes the social work licensure examination voucher program to provide low-income individuals vouchers to cover the cost of the examination required for licensure as a licensed master social worker or licensed clinical social worker.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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9125
IN SENATE
February 5, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. SUTTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "licen-
sure incentives and fee-support for testing (LIFT) act"
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 "licensure
2 incentives and fee-support for testing (LIFT) act".
3 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 7711 to read
4 as follows:
5 § 7711. Social work licensure examination voucher program. 1. The
6 department shall establish a program to provide vouchers to eligible
7 low-income individuals to cover the cost of the examination required for
8 licensure as a licensed master social worker or licensed clinical social
9 worker.
10 2. To be eligible for a voucher under this section, an applicant
11 shall: (a) be a resident of the state; (b) be eligible to sit for the
12 licensed master social worker or licensed clinical social worker exam-
13 ination; and (c) demonstrate income at or below a threshold established
14 by the department by rule or regulation, based on net taxable income, as
15 determined pursuant to section six hundred sixty-three of this chapter.
16 Provided, however, that for applicants who would be considered emanci-
17 pated pursuant to subdivision three of section six hundred sixty-three
18 of this chapter, eligibility shall be determined without regard to
19 parental income.
20 3. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
21 implement the provisions of this section.
22 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
23 it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14592-03-6
