What's happening
This bill prohibits deferring Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) awards until graduation and requires timely payment for student tuition bills.
Why it matters
Ensures students receive financial aid on time. By prohibiting the deferral of TAP awards until after graduation, the bill guarantees that students have access to their tuition assistance when tuition payments are due, reducing the risk of late fees, holds on accounts, or even being dropped from classes.
Prevents financial uncertainty for students. Students will not have to worry about whether their TAP award will be withheld or delayed based on their academic progression or graduation status, allowing for more predictable financial planning throughout their studies.
Removes graduation as a condition for aid. The bill bars institutions from making TAP awards contingent on graduation, ensuring that eligible students receive their full award regardless of whether they complete their degree, which is especially important for those who may need to pause or discontinue their studies.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
No Delays for TAP Awards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- 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.
No TAP Award Deferrals
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Marcos Crespo
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4877
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sens. DIAZ, DILAN -- 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 prohibiting the deferral of awards granted under the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 667 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. Deferral of tuition assistance program awards prohibited. Under no circumstances shall an award granted under the tuition assistance program (TAP) pursuant to this section be deferred until the student recipient graduates from his or her course of study. The president shall pay a tuition assistance program award to the student recipient in a reasonable timeframe in order to ensure the student recipient is able to apply the award toward his or her tuition bill on time. No tuition assistance program award shall be made contingent upon the student's graduation from his or her undergraduate or graduate course of study.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall apply to academic quarters and semesters beginning on or after August 1, 2018.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07226-01-7
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 prohibiting the deferral of awards granted under the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
Purpose
The purpose of this legislation is to prohibit the deferral of TAP awards until after the student graduates from his or her course of study.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends the Education Law, Section 667 by adding a new subdivision 4. Prohibits the deferral of TAP awards until the student graduates his or her course of study. Requires that TAP awards be paid in a reasonable time frame in order to ensure that the student is able to apply the award toward his or her tuition bill.
Section 2. Effective Date
Existing law
None.
Justification
In 1969, the State Legislature adopted the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), a needs-based scholarship program for students seeking to attain higher education in New York State. Originally designed to help low income students pay for higher education, it was later enlarged to provide assistance to middle income students. The Governor has proposed changing TAP to defer payment of one-third of each eligible student's yearly grants until the student has completed his or her degree. Many students depend on financial aid in order to attend college. This proposed change could cause fewer students to seek higher education, disproportionately affect minority students, and cause financial hardship to those students who are forced to take on additional debt to complete their education.
Legislative history
2016: S.181A - AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION 2015: S.181 - REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION 2014: S.867A- Amend and Recommit to Higher Education/ A.2520A - Amend and Recommit to Higher Education 2013: S.867 - Referred to Higher Education/A.2520 - Referred to Higher Education 2012: S.119A- Amend and recommit to Higher Education/A.1280A-Amend and recommit to Higher Education 2011: S.119 - Defeated in Higher Education/A.1280 - Referred to Higher Education 2009-10: S.3130A - Amended and Recommitted to Education/A.8848A Amended and Recommitted to Education 2007-08: S.779 - Referred to Higher Education
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately, and shall apply to academic quarters and semesters beginning on or after August 1, 2018.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.