Provides loan forgiveness to credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors (CASACs) who reside in the state and work in a facility licensed by the state.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1017
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. STIRPE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing loan
forgiveness to credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors
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 679-k
2 to read as follows:
3 § 679-k. Credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor loan
4 forgiveness program. 1. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan
5 forgiveness awards to credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse coun-
6 selors for the purpose of increasing the number of individuals serving
7 in the service area of substance abuse counseling.
8 2. Certification. Credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counse-
9 lor loan forgiveness awards shall be awarded each year. Such awards
10 shall be allocated as provided in this section to eligible credentialed
11 alcoholism and substance abuse counselors, hereinafter referred to as
12 CASACs, as certified to the commissioner by the president.
13 3. Definition. For the purposes of this section, a CASAC shall mean an
14 alcoholism and substance abuse counselor credentialed in accordance with
15 the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 14 Section 853.5.
16 4. Eligibility. A CASAC shall be eligible for an award under this
17 section provided that: (i) such person has been a resident of the state
18 of New York for a minimum of one year and (ii) such person is employed
19 as a CASAC in a facility licensed by the state of New York.
20 5. Duration. Each award shall entitle the recipient to an annual award
21 and a recipient shall be eligible for no more than three years.
22 6. Amount. The corporation shall grant such awards based on availabil-
23 ity of funds in an amount not to exceed the total cost of the student
24 loan debt.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01763-01-3
A. 1017 2
1 7. Rules and regulations. The corporation is authorized to promulgate
2 rules and regulations, and may promulgate emergency regulations neces-
3 sary for the implementation of the provisions of this section.
4 § 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2025.