What's happening
This bill increases the annual loan forgiveness amount for district attorney and indigent legal services attorneys from $3,400 to $5,500.
Why it matters
Makes public service law careers more financially viable. By increasing annual loan forgiveness, the bill addresses one of the main barriers to attracting and retaining attorneys in public defender and district attorney roles, where salaries are often lower than in private practice.
Could improve legal services quality. Higher loan forgiveness may help reduce turnover and burnout among attorneys representing indigent clients, potentially leading to more experienced and stable legal representation for vulnerable populations.
Signals legislative commitment to justice system support. The increase suggests state recognition of the crucial role public sector attorneys play in upholding the legal system, which might encourage more law graduates to consider public service careers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Boost Loan Forgiveness for Lawyers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
10 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Print number 6712a
- Amend and recommit to higher education
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
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.
Boost Loan Forgiveness for Lawyers
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Andrew J. Lanza
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6712--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 16, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. O'DONNELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the New York state district attorney and indigent legal services attorney loan forgiveness program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 679-e of the education law, as amended by section 1 of part VV of chapter 56 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
a. An eligible attorney may apply for reimbursement after the completion of each year of qualified service provided however that reimbursement to each eligible attorney shall not exceed [three thousand four hundred] five thousand five hundred dollars, per qualifying year, subject to appropriations available therefor. The president may establish: (i) an application deadline and (ii) a method of selecting recipients if in any given year there are insufficient funds to cover the needs of all the applicants. Awards shall be within the amounts appropriated for such purpose and based on availability of funds.
§ 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2019.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10489-03-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.