STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3954
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 21, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sens. RANZENHOFER, FUNKE, HELMING, ORTT, YOUNG -- 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 New York
state rural teaching incentive 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. New York state rural teaching incentive program. 1. Eligi-
4 bility. Notwithstanding subdivision five of section six hundred sixty-
5 one of this part, undergraduate and/or graduate students who are matri-
6 culated in an approved undergraduate or graduate program at degree
7 granting institutions located within the state of New York leading to a
8 career as a primary or secondary teacher shall be eligible for an award
9 under this section, provided the applicant: (a) signs a contract with
10 the corporation agreeing to teach in the classroom on a full-time basis
11 for five years in a rural public primary or secondary school located
12 within New York; and (b) complies with the applicable provisions of this
13 article and all requirements promulgated by the corporation for the
14 administration of the program.
15 2. Within amounts appropriated therefor, awards shall be granted to
16 applicants that the corporation has certified are eligible to receive
17 such awards. Up to five hundred awards may be made to new recipients
18 annually. Such awards shall be made to recipients after the successful
19 completion of each academic year, as defined by the corporation.
20 3. An award shall entitle the recipient to annual payments for not
21 more than four academic years of full-time undergraduate study and one
22 academic year of full-time graduate study leading to certification as a
23 classroom teacher in a primary or secondary public school.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01795-01-9
S. 3954 2
1 4. Recipients shall receive an annual payment for the successful
2 completion of an academic year, equal to the annual tuition charged to
3 state resident students attending an undergraduate program full-time at
4 the state university of New York, or actual tuition charged, whichever
5 is less.
6 5. The corporation shall convert to a student loan the full amount of
7 the award given pursuant to this section, plus interest, according to a
8 schedule to be determined by the corporation if: (a) two years after the
9 completion of the degree program and receipt of initial certification it
10 is found that a recipient is not teaching in a rural public school
11 located within New York state providing primary or secondary education;
12 or (b) a recipient has not taught in a rural public primary or secondary
13 school located within New York state for five of the seven years after
14 the completion of the degree program and receipt of initial certif-
15 ication; or (c) a recipient fails to complete their degree program or
16 changes majors to an undergraduate degree program other than in primary
17 or secondary education; or (d) a recipient fails to receive or maintain
18 their teaching certificate or license in New York state; or (e) a recip-
19 ient fails to respond to requests by the corporation for the status of
20 his or her academic or professional progress. The terms and conditions
21 of this subdivision shall be deferred for any interruption in undergrad-
22 uate or graduate study or employment as established by the rules and
23 regulations of the corporation. Any obligation to comply with such
24 provisions as outlined in this section shall be cancelled upon the death
25 of the recipient. Notwithstanding any provisions of this subdivision to
26 the contrary, the corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and
27 regulations to provide for the waiver or suspension of any financial
28 obligation which would involve extreme hardship.
29 6. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations
30 necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this section,
31 including the criteria for the provision of awards on a competitive
32 basis and the rate of interest charged for repayment of the student
33 loan.
34 7. For the purposes of this section, a rural public school shall be
35 defined as a public school located in a rural area as defined in subdi-
36 vision three of section twelve hundred three of this chapter.
37 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
38 have become a law.