What's happening
This bill allows New York City firefighters and fire officers to take two job-related courses tuition-free at CUNY senior colleges.
Why it matters
Supports firefighter professional development. by allowing them to pursue relevant higher education at no cost, which could enhance their skills and knowledge directly related to their roles in public safety.
Targets career advancement and retention. within the New York City Fire Department by making it easier and more affordable for firefighters and officers to earn degrees or complete coursework that may qualify them for promotions or specialized assignments.
Limits impact on other students. by specifying that tuition waivers for firefighters cannot take away spots from other qualified students, maintaining fairness in course access at CUNY senior colleges.
Temporary measure with potential for review. since the bill is set to expire in 2020, providing the state an opportunity to assess its effectiveness and decide on renewal or adjustment based on outcomes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free CUNY Courses for Firefighters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to higher education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1259
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Free CUNY Courses for Firefighters
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1637
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- 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 certain tuition waivers for firefighters and fire officer students of the city university of New York; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law is amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other general, special or local law, rule or regulation, the board of trustees shall promulgate regulations to permit firefighters and fire officers employed by the New York city fire department, who are enrolled in programs leading to baccalaureate or higher degrees at a senior college of the city university to attend two courses without tuition, provided that such courses are related to their employment as firefighters and fire officers and that such tuition-waived attendance does not deny course attendance at a senior college of the city university by an individual who is otherwise qualified under this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed July 1, 2020.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06802-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to certain tuition waivers for firefighters and fire officer students of the city university of New York; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
To allow firefighters and fire officers employed by the New York City Fire Department to attend two courses without tuition, at a senior college of the City University System.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill adds a new paragraph (d) to subdivision 7 of Education Law section 6206 to require the trustees of the City University of New York ("CUNY") to promulgate regulations that would afford firefighters employed by the Fire Department of the City of New York ("FDNY") who are enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree to attend two courses without tuition, provided that such attendance does not deny course attendance by another person who is otherwise qualified under section 6206.
Section 2 of the bill provides that this bill shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on July 1, 2020.
Existing law
Currently, police officers employed by the New York City Police Department ("NYPD") who are enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree are afforded the opportunity to attend two tuition-free courses at CUNY. The same opportunity is not afforded to firefighters employed by FDNY who are enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree.
Justification
Chapter 548 of the Laws of 2004 amended the Education Law to afford police officers employed by NYPD who are enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree to attend two tuition-free courses at CUNY. This program was originally set to expire on July 1, 2006. It has been extended five times and is currently set to expire on July 1, 2018.
Firefighters should be afforded the same opportunity. The rationale underlying the program for police officers, which is "to provide an incentive for public safety personnel to pursue education early in their careers so that the taxpaying citizens would enjoy the greatest long-term benefit from an educated public safety service" is equally applicable to firefighters.
Legislative history
2016: S.1473-A - Passed the Senate 2015: S.1473 - Passed the Senate 2014: S.3958-B - Passed the Senate 2013: S.3958-B - Reported to Finance 2012: S.6437 - Referred to Higher Education
Fiscal implications
None to the State
Effective date
This bill shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on July 1, 2020.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.