What's happening
This bill creates a student loan forgiveness program for agriculture educators in New York State who meet specific eligibility criteria.
Why it matters
Targets a Critical Teacher Shortage Area. By focusing on agriculture educators, the bill aims to address staffing challenges in a field vital to New York’s rural and agricultural communities, potentially improving the quality and availability of agricultural education statewide.
Competitive, Need-Sensitive Awards. Loan forgiveness is not automatic; awards will be distributed competitively, with specific rules to consider applicants who are economically disadvantaged, which may help diversify the workforce and support those with the greatest financial need.
Retention and In-State Investment. Eligibility requirements—such as two years of in-state teaching and residency, and graduation from a New York college—are designed to retain talent within the state, encouraging new graduates to build careers in New York’s agricultural education sector rather than relocating elsewhere.
Limited by Funding Availability. The number and size of loan forgiveness awards will depend on annual state appropriations, meaning the program’s impact may vary year to year and could be more limited in times of budget constraints.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Forgive Loans for Ag Teachers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Print number 7290b
- Amend and recommit to higher education
- Referred to higher education
- Print number 7290a
- Amend and recommit 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.
Forgive Loans for Ag Teachers
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7290--B
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 21, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE, BLANKENBUSH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- 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 providing loan forgiveness for agriculture educators
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 679-j to read as follows:
§ 679-j. New York state agriculture educators loan forgiveness incentive program. 1. Definition. The term "agriculture educator" means an instructor who provides didactic instruction to students about agriculture, food and natural resources delivered through lessons in science, communications, leadership, management and technology.
2. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan forgiveness awards for the purpose of alleviating the burden of student loan debt for agriculture educators teaching in the field of agriculture education in New York state. Such awards shall be made on a competitive basis as promulgated by the corporation for such purposes, to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. Such rules and regulations shall include provisions for the consideration of applicants who are economically disadvantaged.
3. Eligibility. To be eligible for an award pursuant to this section, applicants shall:
(a) have graduated and obtained a degree from an approved New York state college or university;
(b) have an outstanding student loan debt from obtaining such degree;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07618-05-8
A. 7290--B 2
(c) be employed as a full-time agriculture educator in New York state for at least two years;
(d) reside in New York state for at least two years post graduation;
(e) apply for this program within two years of college graduation; and
(f) comply with subdivisions three and five of section six hundred sixty-one of this part.
4. Awards. The corporation shall grant such awards within amounts appropriated for such purposes and based on the availability of funds.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.