What's happening
This bill raises the minimum Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award and increases the income threshold for TAP eligibility in New York.
Why it matters
Increases access to financial aid for more families. By raising the income threshold for TAP eligibility from $80,000 to $95,000, the bill allows middle-income families who were previously excluded to now qualify for tuition assistance, potentially reducing barriers to higher education for a broader segment of New Yorkers.
Raises the minimum support for low-income students. The minimum TAP award is increased from $500 to $750, ensuring that even the lowest-income students receive a more substantial level of financial aid, which can help cover not only tuition but also other college-related expenses.
Adjusts program to better reflect current economic realities. With income thresholds and award amounts unchanged for decades, these updates acknowledge rising tuition costs and cost of living, making state aid more responsive to the actual needs of students and families today.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Tuition Assistance Program
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 39
History
- Referred to higher education
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to higher education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.39
- Reported and committed to rules
- 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.
Raise Tuition Assistance Awards
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Didi Barrett
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1889
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 17, 2019
Introduced by Sens. SKOUFIS, STAVISKY -- 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 increasing the minimum tuition assistance program award and increasing the tuition assistance program income threshold
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Clause (D) of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 667 of the education law, as amended by section 1 of part B of chapter 60 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
(D) Eighteen thousand dollars or Nine hundred eighty dollars
more, but not more than plus twelve per centum of
[eighty] ninety-five excess over eighteen
thousand dollars thousand dollars
§ 2. Subparagraph (vi) of paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 667 of the education law, as amended by section 1 of part B of chapter 60 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
(vi) For the two thousand two--two thousand three academic year and thereafter, the award shall be the net amount of the base amount determined pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph reduced pursuant to subparagraph (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph but the award shall not be reduced below [five hundred] seven hundred fifty dollars.
§ 3. This act shall take effect June 1, 2019.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
S LBD08215-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amen the education law, in relation to increasing the minimum tuition assistance program award and increasing the tuition assistance program income threshold
Purpose
The purpose of this legislation is to increase the number of families who would benefit from the tuition assistance program (TAP) award. This legislation would increase both the minimum amount a student would be eligible to receive as a TAP award as well as increase income threshold that families can earn while remaining eligible for a benefit.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill would amend Education Law § 667(3)(a)(ii)(D) to increase the income threshold for eligibility to receive a tuition assistance program award from the current amount of eighty thousand dollars to a new cap of ninety-five thousand dollars.
Section 2 of the bill would amend Education Law § 667(3)(a)(vi) to increase the minimum tuition assistance program award from the current amount of five hundred dollars to a new minimum of seven hundred fifty dollars.
Section 3 of the bill is the effective date.
Justification
The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provides financial aid, based on sliding income scales, to New York State students who attend public and private colleges in New York State. TAP, which was created in 1974, is among the nation's largest state-sponsored, need-based student aid programs. The maximum TAP award of $5,165 has not increased since 2014, the last increase before then was in 2000.
Since 1974, TAP has served millions of New York State students seeking post-secondary education; however, there are concerns with the existing tuition assistance program. The program as it currently exists leaves too many students excluded or underserved under TAP. This bill would allow more students to become eligible to receive TAP award. This legis- lation makes two changes that expand access to students coming from middle-income families in the state. The first is to raise the income threshold for TAP eligibility from $80,000 to $95,000. This threshold increase will help to alleviate the previous cap and capture students previously ineligible for TAP. The other change made by this legislation would raise the minimum award a student could receive from $500 to $750.
At a time when many middle class families in New York are struggling due to changes to the federal tax law that are punitive to our state the dream of sending one's child to college should not have to be forfeited. This bill would help assist families to be better able to afford high- quality higher education for their children and stay in New York.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
The bill is estimated to cost $24 million.
Effective date
This act shall take effect June 1, 2019.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.