What's happening
This bill creates a loan forgiveness program for agriculture educators in New York who meet specific eligibility criteria.
Why it matters
Addresses teacher shortages and retention. By offering loan forgiveness, the bill aims to attract and retain agriculture educators in New York, a field that is often underserved and vital to rural economies and future food systems.
Targets early-career educators. The requirement to apply within two years of college graduation and to be employed full-time as an agriculture educator for at least two years ensures the program supports those at the beginning of their careers, potentially reducing financial barriers that discourage entry into the profession.
Focuses on economic equity. The program includes specific provisions to consider economically disadvantaged applicants, aiming to make the teaching profession more accessible and diverse.
Conditional and competitive. Awards depend on available funding and are distributed on a competitive basis, meaning not every eligible applicant is guaranteed forgiveness, which prioritizes the best-qualified or most-needed candidates but may leave some applicants without assistance.
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Headline styles
Forgive Loans for Ag Teachers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Print number 1920b
- Amend and recommit to higher education
- Referred to higher education
- Print number 1920a
- Amend and recommit to finance
- 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.
Forgive Loans for Ag Teachers
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor William Magee
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1920--B
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sens. RITCHIE, GALLIVAN, HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -recommitted to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- 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;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07618-04-8
S. 1920--B 2
(b) have an outstanding student loan debt from obtaining such degree;
(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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing loan forgiveness for agriculture educators
Purpose
To provide loan forgiveness for agriculture educators and promote the teaching and study of agricultural education
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the education law by adding a new section 679-j to provide the New York State Agriculture Educators Loan Forgiveness Incen- tive Program. This section defines agricultural educator and provides the purpose, eligibility, and awards associated with the program.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
Justification
Agricultural education is a systematic program of instruction available to students desiring to learn about the science, business, and technolo- gy of plant and animal production, and about the environmental and natural resources systems. Agricultural education first became a part of the public education system in 1917 when the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Hughes Act.
There are approximately 1,000,000 agricultural education students in the nation who are taught by nearly 12,000 secondary and two-year postsecon- dary teachers. It is estimated that the contact hours of in-school instruction in and about agriculture exceed 10 million annually. School- based agricultural education in the United States consists of three closely related components, including: (1) classroom/laboratory instruc- tion (2) experiential learning/education (3) leadership development. The interaction of these three components helps to ensure students' career success or continuation with higher education related to agriscience and/or agribusiness following high school graduation.
Organized instruction is the classroom and laboratory component of agri- cultural education. This instruction may be carried out in a classroom, laboratory, greenhouse, or outdoor setting. Classroom and laboratory instruction include units based on natural and social sciences such as environmental science, agribusiness, natural resources, aquaculture, food science and safety, animal and plant sciences, entrepreneurship, and many other areas. However students enrolled in these courses have the unique opportunity to apply their core content concepts in an agri- culturally related context. For example, when using the STEM model, a student learning about hydrogen and covalent bonding in chemistry is able to apply these concepts when examining the chemistry of food proc- essing. By enhancing their core content knowledge base with agriculture, students gain the real-world experiences that enhance college and career readiness.
Agricultural education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems. However, The National Association of Agricul- tural Educators believes that there are not enough agriculture teachers to meet the current demand. By providing loan forgiveness to agriculture educators New York can help to combat this deficiency.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.4963 Passed the Senate/A.7287 Referred to Higher Education.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after 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.