What's happening
This bill establishes the New York Promise Program to provide tuition grants for eligible community college students, with a $450 million appropriation.
Why it matters
Targets Recent High School Graduates. The program is specifically designed for students who have completed their high school education (or equivalent) in New York within the last six months, aiming to create a direct pathway from high school to community college and reduce the gap year effect.
'Last-Dollar' Tuition Coverage. The grant covers tuition costs that remain after federal and state aid is applied, ensuring that financial barriers are minimized for eligible students, but students must contribute at least $50 per term—potentially increasing access for low-income families.
Strong Academic & Residency Requirements. To qualify and maintain eligibility, students must have been New York residents for at least a year, have a 2.5 GPA or equivalent, and continue to make satisfactory academic progress, which encourages both commitment to the state and academic performance.
Oversight, Evaluation, and Equity Provisions. The Department of Education is tasked with annual reporting on student success, financial impacts, and program outcomes. The law allows for prioritizing students from certain high-need districts or schools, with authority to adjust rules for dual enrollment and fee inclusion, signaling a focus on both accountability and flexibility to address equity concerns.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Community College Tuition
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
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.
Free Community College Tuition
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn
Full text
4 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2114
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 22, 2019
Introduced by Sens. SANDERS, KENNEDY, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the establishment of the New York promise program for community colleges; and making an appropriation therefor
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 6311 to read as follows:
§ 6311. New York promise program. 1. Establishment. There is hereby established the New York promise program for community colleges.
2. Administration. The department shall administer the New York promise program as provided for in this section. Subject to subdivisions five and six of this section, the department shall provide a waiver of tuition for community college courses to a person who meets the criteria described in subdivisions three and four of this section. Such waiver shall be a grant and limited as provided in subdivisions five and six of this section.
3. Eligibility. A grant shall be awarded under this section to a person who:
(a) is enrolled in courses that are:
(i) offered at a community college in this state; and
(ii) determined by the department, to be required for completion of:
(1) a one-year curriculum for students who plan to transfer to another post-secondary institution of education;
(2) an associate's degree; or
(3) a program in career and technical education.
(b) has been a resident of this state for at least twelve months prior to enrolling in the courses described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00043-01-9
S. 2114 2
(c) attained their highest level of education in this state prior to:
(i) receiving a high school diploma; or
(ii) receiving a general educational development certificate.
(d) attained their highest level of education as described in paragraph (c) of this subdivision within six months from the date the person first enrolls in courses described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision for the purpose of receiving a grant under this section;
(e) earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better in high school or otherwise demonstrated an equivalent academic ability, as determined by the department;
(f) completed and submitted the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) for each academic year and accepted all state and federal aid grants available, if eligible to file the application; and
(g) has not completed either of the following:
(i) more than a total of ninety credit hours, or the equivalent, at a post-secondary institution of education; or
(ii) a curriculum, degree or program, as described in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of this subdivision.
4. Continued eligibility. (a) A person continues to remain eligible to receive a grant under this section if the person, in addition to satisfying the criteria described in subdivision three of this section:
(i) maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better during each term for which such person has received a grant under this section;
(ii) makes satisfactory progress towards a one-year curriculum, degree or program, as described in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section, as determined by the department; and
(iii) enrolls in courses described in paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section for a sufficient number of credit hours to be considered at least a half-time student each term for at least three terms in each consecutive year.
(b) A person who fails to maintain the cumulative grade point average specified in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of this subdivision becomes ineligible to receive a grant under this section for the term after which the person fails to maintain the cumulative grade point average, unless the eligibility requirement of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of this subdivision is waived by the department.
5. Awards. (a) The total amount of a grant awarded under this section shall be based on each term that a person is enrolled in courses described in paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section. After the amount of tuition for the person for the term is reduced by fifty dollars, to be paid by the person, and reduced by any amounts received by the person in state and federal aid grants, the person shall be eligible for a grant under this section in an amount that equals:
(i) except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, not less than the greater of:
(1) one thousand dollars; and
(2) the person's actual cost of tuition.
(ii) not more than the lesser of:
(1) the average cost of tuition at a community college in this state, as determined by the department; and
(2) the person's actual cost for tuition.
(b) The minimum amount of a grant, as calculated under paragraph (a) of this subdivision, may be prorated for a person who is enrolled in courses described in paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section for a sufficient number of credit hours to be considered at least a half-time student but not a full-time student.
S. 2114 3
(c) The department may prescribe by rule or regulation whether to include fees, and any limitations related to the inclusion of fees, when determining the actual cost of tuition or the average cost of tuition under this subdivision.
6. Total grant amount. The total amount in grants awarded under this section by the department may not exceed ten million dollars per fiscal year, or any lesser amount available to the department for the purpose of this section. The department may adopt by rule or regulation the priority by which grants are awarded, which may allow for preference to be given to persons enrolled in school districts or high schools that meet specified criteria.
7. Rules and regulations. The department shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary for the administration of this section including any requirements related to:
(a) specifying the form and timelines for submitting an application for a grant under this section;
(b) determining whether a person is eligible for a grant under this section, including whether the person shall be given priority as allowed under subdivision six of this section;
(c) implementing programs or policies that improve the academic success or completion rates for persons who receive a grant under this section;
(d) prescribing eligibility requirements and grant calculations for persons dually enrolled in a community college and a public university; and
(e) evaluating the impact of the program established under this section, including any requirements for reporting data needed for evaluation.
8. No later than December thirty-first of each even-numbered year, the department shall submit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly a report that summarizes the department's findings on the impact of the program established under this section. Such report shall include:
(a) student completion rates of curricula, degrees and programs described in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section;
(b) the amount of federal aid grants received by persons who received a grant under this section;
(c) the financial impact of the program on school districts that had students receive a grant under this section;
(d) the financial and enrollment impact of the program on community colleges and public universities in this state; and
(e) the overall success rate of this program and financial impact of the program.
§ 2. The sum of four hundred fifty million dollars ($ 450,000,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of education from any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the department of education not otherwise appropriated for services and expenses of the New York State Promise Program for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such sum shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education, or his duly designated representative in the manner provided by law. No expenditure shall be made from this appropriation until a certificate of approval of availability shall have been issued by the director of the budget and filed with the state comptroller and a copy
S. 2114 4
filed with the chairman of the senate finance committee and the chairman of the assembly ways and means committee. Such certificate may be amended from time to time by the director of the budget and a copy of each such amendment shall be filed with the state comptroller, the chairman of the senate finance committee and the chairman of the assembly ways and means committee.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law and apply to courses enrolled in beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year.
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 the establishment of the New York promise program for community colleges; and making an appropriation therefor
Purpose
To provide a waiver of tuition for community college courses to persons who meet certain criteria.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends article 126 of the education law by adding a new section 6311 providing there is established the New York Promise Program for community colleges. The Department of Education shall provide a waiver of tuition for community college courses, in the form of a grant, to a person who meets the following criteria:
Read the full memo (718 words)
-Enrolled in courses offered at a community college in this state, determined to be required for the completion of a one-year curriculum for students who plan to transfer to another postsecondary institution of education, or an associate's degree or a program in career and tech- nical education.
-New York resident for at least twelve months prior to enrolling in the community college courses.
-Attained their highest level of education in New York prior to receiv- ing a high school diploma or GED within six months from the initial date of enrollment in the community college courses.
-Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better in high school or otherwise demonstrated an equivalent academic ability.
-Completed and submitted the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) for each academic year and accepted all state and federal aid grants available, if eligible.
- Has not completed more than a total of ninety credit hours at a post- secondary institution of education, or an associate's degree or a program in career and technical education.
A person remains eligible to receive a grant upon maintaining a 2.5 GPA or better; making satisfactory progress towards a one-year curriculum, associate's degree or a program in career and technical education; and enrolls in courses for a sufficient number of credit hours to be consid- ered at least a half-time student each term for at least three terms in each consecutive year.
After the tuition is reduced by fifty dollars, to be paid by the person, and reduced by any amounts received by the person in state and federal aid grants, the person shall be eligible for a grant equaling at least the greater of one thousand dollars and the actual cost of tuition, but no more than the lesser of the average community college tuition cost in the state and the person's actual cost of tuition. The total amount in grants may not exceed ten million dollars per fiscal year. The Depart- ment of Education shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary for the administration of this program, and submit an annual report on the impact of the program by December 31 of each even-numbered year.
Section 2 appropriates $450,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to the Department of Education for the services and expenses of the New York Promise Program.
Section 3 provides this act shall take effect on the one hundred twenti- eth day after it shall have become a law and apply to courses enrolled in beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year. The amended bill clarifies that the program is not limited to that academic year.
Existing law
This is a new law.
Justification
According to the America's College Promise report, released by the White House in September 2015, states and communities across the country are making community college tuition-free. The report explains why this is important, noting by 2020 an estimated 35 percent of job openings will require at least a bachelor's degree and another 30 percent will require at least some college or an associate's degree. For many students, community colleges offer a feasible starting point to a four-year college degree. It is essential for New York to take charge in bringing down college costs and promoting equality in education.
This bill is modeled after the Oregon legislation, signed into law in July 2015.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
$450,000,000.00 appropriation, or so much thereof as may be necessary
Local fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law and apply to courses enrolled in beginning in the 2017-2018 academic year.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.