What's happening
This bill increases the annual loan forgiveness amount for eligible district attorney and indigent legal services attorneys to $5,500.
Why it matters
Addresses attorney recruitment and retention. By increasing loan forgiveness, the bill aims to make public service roles as district attorneys and indigent legal service attorneys more competitive, helping government offices attract and keep qualified lawyers who might otherwise choose higher-paying private sector jobs.
Eases financial burden on early-career public defenders and prosecutors. The increased annual loan forgiveness could make these public service legal careers more accessible to law graduates who are often deterred by large student debt loads and modest public sector salaries.
Could improve quality and stability of legal representation. More sustainable career paths for public defenders and prosecutors may reduce turnover and burnout, leading to better experience, consistency, and advocacy for both the state and indigent clients.
Effectiveness depends on funding availability. The bill still limits awards based on annual appropriations, so the actual impact will rely on whether the state consistently funds the program at levels that allow all eligible attorneys to benefit from the increased forgiveness amount.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Increase Lawyer Loan Forgiveness
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2646
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 28, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- 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 the New York state district attorney and indigent legal services attorney loan forgiveness program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 679-e of the education law, as amended by section 1 of part VV of chapter 56 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
a. An eligible attorney may apply for reimbursement after the completion of each year of qualified service provided however that reimbursement to each eligible attorney shall not exceed [three thousand four hundred] five thousand five hundred dollars, per qualifying year, subject to appropriations available therefor. The president may establish: (i) an application deadline and (ii) a method of selecting recipients if in any given year there are insufficient funds to cover the needs of all the applicants. Awards shall be within the amounts appropriated for such purpose and based on availability of funds.
§ 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2020.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08206-01-9
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 New York state district attorney and indigent legal services attorney loan forgiveness program
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would increase loan forgiveness for attorneys performing legal services for indigent clients
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 679-e of the education law, as amended by section 1 of part VV of chapter 56 of the laws of 2009 to increase the maximum annual amount to $5,500.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Difference between original and amended version (if applicable)
N/A
Justification
The loan forgiveness program for district attorneys and legal services has been in place for several years. During this time period, the cost of law school has increased dramatically, placing a high burden on these graduates who want to have a career in public service. The proposed increase in the loan forgiveness annual amount will help insure that the program provides meaningful relief to these attorneys in public service.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.6731A - Referred to Higher Education / A.6712A - Referred to Higher Education
2017: S.6731 - Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect April 1, 2019.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.