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Senator · Senate District 40
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Enacts the "Commitment to Military Education Act" to provide tuition assistance to members of the armed forces who were enrolled in a tuition assistance program cancelled or suspended
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S4413
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Commitment to Military Education Act"
Purpose
Provides tuition assistance to members of the armed forces who were enrolled in the military tuition assistance program that has been suspended due to sequester-mandated cuts.
Summary of provisions
This bill would amend the education law by adding a new section 669-e.
Subdivision 1. Defines eligible students as members of the armed forces enrolled in the state of New York university system on the effective date of this legislation who have are enrolled in a United States armed forces tuition assistance program.
Subdivision 2. Grants tuition reductions to the eligible students. Reduced tuition shall be equivalent to the regular tuition amount reduced by the amount of assistance per credit hour the student formerly received from the United States armed forces tuition program.
Subdivision 3. Authorizes the state university trustees and the board of governors of the community college system to prescribe rules and regulations for the implementation.
Subdivision 4. Students shall remain eligible until the United States armed forces tuition assistance programs that were suspended in 2013 are reinstated.
Justification
The Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard have announced that they will be suspending tuition assistance programs for active-duty and reserve personnel. The Navy is considering similar cuts. The cuts come as part of the sequester-mandated reductions. Those currently enrolled will still receive support through the end of the semester, but will not receive tuition assistance for future classes. This means that servicemen and women currently enrolled in college classes and pursuing a degree will not have the funding to complete their coursework and graduate.
Many young men and women enlist, in part, because of the tuition assistance. It promises the opportunity to pursue an education and prepare themselves for a career after the military. The program also gives enlisted personnel the chance to pursue a degree and eventually a commission as an officer. Troops going from enlisted to officer bring a great degree of knowledge and experience with them, contributing to a diverse and well-rounded officer corps.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act would take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.