What's happening
This bill allows New York taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the Tuition Assistance Program fund through their state income tax returns.
Why it matters
Creates a new, dedicated fund for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) that is separate from other state funds, ensuring that voluntary taxpayer contributions are protected and clearly tracked for their intended purpose.
Guarantees that any money contributed by taxpayers will supplement, not replace, the state’s existing funding for TAP, which could help expand the program or increase award amounts without risking cuts to baseline support.
Provides taxpayers a direct method to support higher education financial aid for New York students through their annual tax return, potentially increasing public investment and engagement in college affordability issues.
Includes oversight by state financial officers and specific appropriation requirements, aiming to ensure transparency and accountability in how the contributed funds are distributed and used.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Donate to College Aid
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
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.
Let Taxpayers Fund Tuition Aid
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2241
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the tax law and the state finance law, in relation to allowing taxpayers to contribute to the tuition assistance program on personal income tax returns
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 630-e to read as follows:
§ 630-e. Gifts to the tuition assistance program. Effective for any taxable year commencing on or after January first, two thousand twenty, an individual in any taxable year may elect to contribute to the gifts to the tuition assistance program fund established in section eighty-two of the state finance law. Such contribution shall be in any whole dollar amount and shall not reduce the amount of state tax owed by such individual. The commissioner shall include space on the personal income tax return to enable a taxpayer to make such contribution. Notwithstanding any other provision of law all revenues collected pursuant to this section shall be credited to the gifts to the tuition assistance program fund; used in addition to, not to supplant, existing funding under the tuition assistance program; and used for only those purposes enumerated in section six hundred sixty-seven of the education law.
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 82 to read as follows:
§ 82. Gifts to the tuition assistance program fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the state comptroller and the commissioner of taxation and finance a special fund to be known as the gifts to the tuition assistance program fund.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02123-01-7
S. 2241 2
2. Such fund shall consist of all moneys received by the department of taxation and finance from gifts to the tuition assistance program pursuant to section six hundred thirty-e of the tax law.
3. Moneys in such fund shall be kept separately from and shall not be commingled with any other moneys in the custody of the state comptroller.
4. Such moneys, after appropriation by the legislature, shall be available to the president of the New York state higher education services corporation for the distribution of tuition assistance program awards. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all revenues collected pursuant to section six hundred thirty-e of the tax law shall be credited to the gifts to the tuition assistance program fund, used in addition to, not to supplant, existing funding under the tuition assistance program and used for only those purposes enumerated in section six hundred sixty-seven of the education law.
5. The moneys in such fund shall be appropriated and paid out on audit and warrant of the comptroller on the certification of the commissioner of education or such other officer or employee or officers or employees as such comptroller and such commissioner shall authorize to make such requisitions.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to taxable years occurring on or after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the tax law and the state finance law, in relation to allowing taxpayers to contribute to the tuition assistance program on personal income tax returns
Purpose
To create a pathway for New York State taxpayers to make a contribution through their income tax returns to the tuition assistance program (TAP).
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Part 2 of article 22 of the tax law is amended by adding a new section 630-d. This Section would allow for a contribution to (TAP) and amend the New York State tax forms for such a contribution.
Section 2 of the bill adds a new section 81 to allow fox the New York State Comptroller to set up a special fund for TAP contributions and be delivered to the Education Department.
Existing law
Not applicable.
Justification
The Tuition Assistance Program is a valuable necessity to our students in New York State. Allowing for New York State taxpayers and residents the ability to contribute to this fund would strengthen its own revenue as well as the New York State Budget. In a time where education is fragile but so badly depended on, now is not the time to cut our educational programs. Studies show that our student's bachelor degrees now have the equivalency of what a high school diploma did 25 years ago. Our Higher Education programs should be first and foremost. This bill would give all New York taxpayers the chance to join in making New York education a priority.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.558A - Amend and Recommit to Investigations & Gov't Operations 2013-14: S.1608A/A1034A - Amend and Recommit to Investigations & Gov't Operations 2011-12: S.1050A/A2588A - Referred to Investigations & Gov't Operations 2010: S.2456A - Investigations & Government Operations 2008: S.4528 - Investigations & Government Operations 2006: S.640 - Investigations & Government Operations
Fiscal implications
It is estimated that there would be a minimal administrative cost to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
Local fiscal implications
Not applicable.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January 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.