STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8206
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 11, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to redefining science,
technology, engineering, and math education (STEM)
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature hereby
2 finds that the state requires a comprehensive approach to science, tech-
3 nology, engineering, and math education (STEM). Under current law,
4 little to no incentives or programmatic funding exists to push STEM
5 education forward. The legislature further finds it essential to bring
6 back business and industry in STEM education programs by getting them
7 involved for career development. Furthermore, the legislature finds it
8 questionable whether current curriculum focuses on the adequate areas to
9 provide children with the standards needed to fulfill a math or science
10 job opportunity in the future.
11 Therefore be it resolved that the legislature intends to mirror the
12 federal efforts underway to promote STEM and enable New York students to
13 compete internationally in educational fields that drive the global
14 economy and to provide the appropriate funding for STEM programs.
15 § 2. Section 669-e of the education law, as added by section 1 of part
16 G of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
17 § 669-e. New York state science, technology, engineering and mathemat-
18 ics incentive program. 1. Undergraduate students who are matriculated in
19 an approved undergraduate program leading to a career in science,
20 computer science, technology, engineering including design skills and
21 practice or mathematics at a New York state public institution of higher
22 education shall be eligible for an award under this section, provided
23 the applicant: (a) graduates from a high school located in New York
24 state during or after the two thousand thirteen--fourteen school year;
25 and (b) graduates within the top ten percent of his or her high school
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11341-02-5
A. 8206 2
1 class; and (c) enrolls in full-time study each term beginning in the
2 fall term after his or her high school graduation in an approved under-
3 graduate program in science, computer science, technology, engineering,
4 including design skills and practice or mathematics, as defined by the
5 corporation, at a New York state public institution of higher education;
6 and (d) signs a contract with the corporation agreeing that his or her
7 award will be converted to a student loan in the event the student fails
8 to comply with the terms of this program as set forth in subdivision
9 four of this section; and (e) complies with the applicable provisions of
10 this article and all requirements promulgated by the corporation for the
11 administration of the program.
12 2. Awards shall be granted beginning with the two thousand fourteen--
13 two thousand fifteen academic year and thereafter to applicants that the
14 corporation has determined are eligible to receive such awards. The
15 corporation shall grant such awards in an amount equal to the amount of
16 undergraduate tuition for residents of New York state charged by the
17 state university of New York or actual tuition charged, whichever is
18 less; provided, however, (i) a student who receives educational grants
19 and/or scholarships that cover the student's full cost of attendance
20 shall not be eligible for an award under this program; (ii) for a
21 student who receives educational grants and/or scholarships that cover
22 less than the student's full cost of attendance, such grants and/or
23 scholarships shall not be deemed duplicative of this program and may be
24 held concurrently with an award under this program, provided that the
25 combined benefits do not exceed the student's full cost of attendance;
26 and (iii) an award under this program shall be applied to tuition after
27 the application of all other educational grants and scholarships limited
28 to tuition and shall be reduced in an amount equal to such educational
29 grants and/or scholarships. Upon notification of an award under this
30 program, the institution shall defer the amount of tuition equal to the
31 award. No award shall be final until the recipient's successful
32 completion of a term has been certified by the institution.
33 3. An eligible recipient shall not receive an award for more than four
34 academic years of full-time undergraduate study or five academic years
35 if the program of study normally requires five years, excluding any
36 allowable interruption of study.
37 4. The corporation shall convert to a student loan the full amount of
38 the award given pursuant to this section, plus interest, according to a
39 schedule to be determined by the corporation if: (a) a recipient fails
40 to complete an approved undergraduate program in science, computer
41 science, technology, engineering, including design skills and practice
42 or mathematics or changes majors to a program of undergraduate study
43 other than in science, computer science, technology, engineering,
44 including design skills and practice or mathematics; or (b) upon
45 completion of such undergraduate degree program a recipient fails to
46 either (i) complete five years of continuous full time employment in the
47 science, computer science, technology, engineering, including design
48 skills and practice or mathematics field with a public or private entity
49 located within New York state, or (ii) maintain residency in New York
50 state for such period of employment; or (c) a recipient fails to respond
51 to requests by the corporation for the status of his or her academic or
52 professional progress. The terms and conditions of this subdivision
53 shall be deferred for individuals who graduate with a degree in an
54 approved undergraduate program in science, computer science, technology,
55 engineering, including design skills and practice or mathematics and
56 enroll on at least a half-time basis in a graduate or higher degree
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1 program or other professional licensure degree program until they are
2 conferred a degree, and shall also be deferred for any interruption in
3 undergraduate study or employment as established by the rules and regu-
4 lations of the corporation. The terms and conditions of this subdivision
5 may also be deferred for a grace period, to be established by the corpo-
6 ration, following the completion of an approved undergraduate program in
7 science, computer science, technology, engineering, including design
8 skills and practice or mathematics a graduate or higher degree program
9 or other professional licensure degree program. Any obligation to comply
10 with such provisions as outlined in this section shall be cancelled upon
11 the death of the recipient. Notwithstanding any provisions of this
12 subdivision to the contrary, the corporation is authorized to promulgate
13 rules and regulations to provide for the waiver or suspension of any
14 financial obligation which would involve extreme hardship.
15 5. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations,
16 and may promulgate emergency regulations, necessary for the implementa-
17 tion of the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to,
18 the rate of interest charged for repayment of the student loan.
19 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
