What's happening
This bill allows students to receive New York tuition assistance awards for up to five academic years in total.
Why it matters
Expanding tuition assistance to five years helps students who need additional time to complete their degrees. , which can be particularly important for those balancing school with work, family responsibilities, or facing academic challenges.
This change could improve graduation rates and reduce dropout rates. , since students facing setbacks or enrolled in demanding programs (like dual degrees or those requiring remedial courses) would have more time to remain financially supported.
Allowing a fifth year of aid makes higher education more accessible and achievable for non-traditional students. , such as part-time students or those returning to finish degrees after interruptions, who may not fit the traditional four-year timeline.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Extend Tuition Aid to Five Years
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- 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.
Extend Tuition Aid to Five Years
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1722
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- 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 the duration of tuition assistance awards
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 604 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
1-a. Tuition assistance awards provided for in subdivision one of this section shall be available to students enrolled in approved programs for five academic years in the aggregate.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00520-01-7
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 the duration of tuition assistance awards
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to extend the duration of tuition assistance awards to five years. Present law provides for undergraduate students to generally receive tuition assistance payments (TAP) for four years of study. Students who are enrolled in certain approved 5-year undergraduate programs may receive 5 years of TAP assistance.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Adds a new subdivision 1-a to section 604 of the education law providing that TAP aid be available to students enrolled in approved programs for 5 academic years in the aggregate.
Section 2. Effective date.
Justification
New York State funds two programs which provide need-based aid to all eligible higher education students: the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), a state-operated financial aid program for State residents attending approved postsecondary institutions in New York, and the Supplemental Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) providing up to one additional year of aid for educationally disadvantaged students enrolled in remedial courses. STAP awards are determined in the same manner as TAP awards. It is a given fact that the Legislature has a history of endeavoring to maintain a balanced relationship between the independent and public sectors of higher education. This has been coupled with a desire to make resources available for providing students with the maximum access in all sectors of higher education.
In past years, eligibility levels were increased, along with the maximum awards available to students attending New York's colleges. However, there has been no effort to increase the number of years of eligibility for these very same students.
New factors have evolved during this time, including the lack of class availability for those students who hope to graduate within the "normal" four year period. Subsequently, many students have been forced to attend college for up to five years to obtain their undergraduate degree. Many students who need to work to support themselves are also forced to reduce their coursework, also prolonging their college years. New York needs to factor these circumstances into the equation when allocating TAP assistance.
Legislative history
2015-16: S1224/A265 - Higher Education/Higher Education
2014: S6844/A2502 - Higher Education/Higher Education
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.