STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5220
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, ABINANTI, STECK, LUPARDO -- Multi-Spon-
sored by -- M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing loan
forgiveness for mental health nurses
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. New York state mental health nurse loan forgiveness incentive
4 program. 1. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan forgiveness
5 awards for the purpose of alleviating the burden of student loan debt
6 for mental health nurses in New York state. Such awards shall be made on
7 a competitive basis as promulgated by the corporation for such purposes,
8 to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. Such rules and regu-
9 lations shall include provisions for the consideration of applicants who
10 are economically disadvantaged.
11 2. Eligibility. To be eligible for an award pursuant to this section,
12 applicants shall:
13 (a) have graduated and obtained a degree from an approved New York
14 state college or university;
15 (b) have an outstanding student loan debt from obtaining such degree;
16 (c) be employed as a professional or practical nurse, nurse practi-
17 tioner, or clinical nurse specialist in New York state in accordance
18 with sections six thousand nine hundred five, six thousand nine hundred
19 six, six thousand nine hundred ten and six thousand nine hundred eleven
20 of this chapter;
21 (d) apply for this program within two years of college graduation;
22 (e) comply with subdivisions three and five of section six hundred
23 sixty-one of this part;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02461-01-1
A. 5220 2
1 (f) make a commitment to practice in a tract or county defined by the
2 health resources and services administration as being "rural" or eligi-
3 ble for a rural health grant; and
4 (g) make a commitment to practice in state psychiatric hospitals,
5 hospital in-patient psychiatric units, addiction treatment centers,
6 behavioral health clinics or a county run mental health program for the
7 duration of the award.
8 3. Awards. The corporation shall grant such awards within amounts
9 appropriated for such purposes and based on the availability of funds.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
11 have become a law.
