What's happening
This bill requires New York to determine student financial aid eligibility within 60 days of receiving a completed application or automatically grant aid, with a possible 30-day extension if needed.
Why it matters
Reduces uncertainty and wait times for students and families. by guaranteeing a decision on financial aid eligibility within a set timeframe, helping them plan for tuition and other expenses more effectively.
Creates accountability for the state agency. overseeing financial aid, as it must process applications promptly or automatically grant aid, which could incentivize better administrative performance and resource allocation.
Provides a safety net for students. by ensuring that delays in processing beyond the deadline don't penalize applicants; if the agency takes too long, students are presumed eligible, potentially increasing access to higher education for those most affected by bureaucratic slowdowns.
Allows for limited flexibility in complex cases. through a one-time, 30-day extension (with notification), balancing the need for thorough review with the importance of timely decisions.
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
Students applying for financial aid
The bill would deem students eligible for aid for the requested semester if the corporation misses the 60-day decision deadline, subject to an additional 30-day extension.
The corporation administering financial aid
The bill would require eligibility decisions within 60 days of receiving completed applications, with an additional 30 days available upon timely written notice to the institution.
Colleges and universities
Institutions would receive written notice within the initial 60 days when the corporation needs additional time to review a student's completed application.
Headline styles
Speed Up Student Aid Decisions
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Speed Up Student Aid Decisions
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Toby Ann Stavisky
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3589
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to general and academic performance awards, student loans and tuition assistance program awards
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 665 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
8. Timeliness of financial aid determinations. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the corporation shall make its determination of financial aid eligibility within sixty days from the day of the receipt of the completed financial aid application from the student. In the event that such financial aid determination is not made by the corporation within sixty days after receipt of the completed financial aid application from the student, such student shall be deemed eligible to receive financial aid for the semester for which the completed financial aid application is made; provided, however, that the corporation may obtain an additional thirty day extension to make its eligibility determination upon written notification to the institution within sixty days that additional time is necessary to examine and review the completed financial aid application of such student.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July in the second year next succeeding the year in which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06551-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.