What's happening
This bill allows New York counties to offer tuition assistance grants for volunteer firefighters and EMS volunteers attending state or community colleges.
Why it matters
Encourages recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel. by making college more affordable, addressing ongoing shortages in these critical public safety roles.
Creates a financial incentive for volunteers. by offering up to 50% tuition grants for part-time (or greater) enrollment at state or community colleges, making higher education accessible while serving their communities.
Shares the cost between counties and the state. , with counties reimbursed for half the grant expenses, potentially reducing the financial burden on local governments and making the program more attractive for adoption.
Leaves program implementation up to each county. , meaning benefits will vary by locality—counties must opt in and pass a local law, so access to tuition assistance will depend on local government action.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Tuition Aid for First Responders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
7 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
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.
College Aid for Volunteer Responders
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Timothy M. Kennedy
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4423
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. DenDEKKER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service volunteer tuition assistance grant program
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 609-a to read as follows:
§ 609-a. Volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service volunteer tuition assistance grant program. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "volunteer firefighter" shall mean an active volunteer member of a fire company of a county, a fire company of a city, town or village located within such county, or a fire district fire department located within such county, whether or not any such company is incorporated under any general or special law.
b. "volunteer emergency medical service personnel" shall mean an active volunteer member of any emergency medical service as established within a county, town, village or city or local tax district, whether or not any such service is incorporated under any general or special law.
c. "at least a part-time basis" shall mean enrollment for at least six hours per semester or four hours per quarter.
d. "tuition" shall mean the total semester, quarter or classroom hour cost of instruction to the student at a state-operated institution or community college, as defined pursuant to section three hundred fifty of this chapter, excluding mandatory fees, book charges and room and board.
2. Any county within the state is hereby authorized, by the enactment of a local law, to establish and implement a volunteer firefighters/emergency medical service volunteer tuition assistance grant program to provide tuition assistance to volunteer
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02141-01-9
A. 4423 2
firefighters/emergency medical service volunteers enrolled on at least a part-time basis at state-operated institutions or community colleges as those terms are defined in section three hundred fifty of this title. Any program established pursuant to this section shall provide tuition assistance grants to such volunteer firefighters/emergency medical service volunteers in an amount up to fifty percent of the tuition required to be paid to such state-operated institution or community college by such firefighter/emergency medical service volunteer.
3. Any county which establishes a volunteer firefighters/emergency medical service volunteer tuition assistance grant program pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be entitled to reimbursement from the state for one-half of the actual cost of tuition assistance paid by such county to volunteer firefighters or emergency medical service personnel.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to academic semesters, quarters and classroom hours beginning on or after January 1, 2021.
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.