What's happening
This bill creates a scholarship program covering SUNY tuition for volunteer firefighters who commit to five years of service.
Why it matters
Creates a significant incentive for volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention. by offering full SUNY tuition coverage, but only for those who agree to five years of volunteer service—potentially strengthening local fire departments facing personnel shortages.
Ties educational funding directly to continued volunteer service and academic progress. , meaning students risk converting their scholarship into a student loan (with interest) if they fail to graduate, leave the fire company, or do not complete the five-year service commitment, thus building accountability into the program.
Could increase access to higher education for lower-income New Yorkers. who are willing to serve as volunteer firefighters, potentially diversifying both the student population at SUNY schools and the makeup of local fire companies.
May prompt broader policy discussions. about how states can use targeted education benefits to address public service shortages, potentially serving as a model for similar programs in other fields or locations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free College for Volunteer Firefighters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
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.
Free College for Volunteer Firefighters
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Marianne Buttenschon
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4847
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 27, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- 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 volunteer firefighters of New York higher education learning plan
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 669-i to read as follows:
§ 669-i. Volunteer firefighters of New York higher education learning plan. 1. Eligibility. Undergraduate students who are matriculated in an approved undergraduate program at the state university of New York and are members in good standing in one of New York's volunteer fire companies shall be eligible for an award under this section, provided the applicant: (a) signs a contract with the corporation agreeing to work for a New York volunteer fire company on a full-time basis for five years; and (b) complies with the applicable provisions of this article and all requirements promulgated by the corporation for the administration of the program.
2. Within the amounts appropriated therefor, awards shall be granted to applicants that the corporation has certified are eligible to receive such awards. Such awards shall be made to recipients after the successful completion of each academic year, as defined by the corporation.
3. An award shall entitle the recipient to annual payments for not more than four academic years of full-time undergraduate study.
4. Recipients shall receive an annual payment for the successful completion of an academic year, equal to up to one hundred percent of the annual tuition charged to state resident students attending an undergraduate program full-time at the state university of New York, or actual tuition charged, whichever is less.
5. The corporation shall convert to a student loan the full amount of the award given pursuant to this section plus interest, according to a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10488-01-9
S. 4847 2
schedule to be determined by the corporation if: (a) a recipient fails to complete their course of studies as agreed to with the corporation or is not a member in good standing in a New York volunteer fire company while obtaining his or her degree; or (b) two years after the completion of their course of studies as agreed to with the corporation it is found that the recipient is not working for a New York volunteer fire company; or (c) a recipient has not worked for a New York volunteer fire company for five of the seven years after the completion of their course of studies as agreed to with the corporation; or (d) a recipient fails to respond to requests by the Fireman's Association of the State of New York for the status of his or her academic or professional progress.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 volunteer firefighters of New York higher education learning plan
Purpose
This act creates the Volunteer Firefighters of New York Higher Education Learning Plan.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the education law by adding new section 669-i. Subsection one of § 669-i establishes the eligibility requirements for undergraduate students at the State University of New York who are members in good standing of one of New York's Volunteer fire companies to participate in the program. Subsection two of § 669-i provides that the awards shall be granted to applicants that the corporation has certified are eligible based on the amount of funds appropriated. Subsection three of § 669-i provides that awards shall be limited to not more than four academic years of full time undergraduate study. Subsection four of § 669-i establishes that the maximum award shall be either one hundred percent of annual tuition charged to state residents at the State University of New York or the actual tuition charged, whichever is less. Subsection five of § 669-i provides the criteria by which the corporation shall convert the award to a student loan.
Section 2 is the effective date. sk 1 JUSTIFICATION:
New York's Volunteer Fire Companies provide fire and emergency response services to New Yorkers all across the Empire State. The provision of these important and essential services would not be possible without the thousands of New Yorkers who volunteer their time and energy to serve as volunteer firefighters in their community. In recent years, recruiting and retaining enough individuals to adequately provide volunteer fire and emergency response services has been proven very difficult in many communities.
As a way to attract and retain new members, the Firemen's Association of the State of New York has launched the Higher Education Learning Plan which provides active volunteer firefighters with tuition reimbursement for the successful completion of courses at a nearby community college.
Many communities throughout New York State do not have a community college nearby. Instead, many have a four-year State University of New York College nearby.
This bill would create a state-wide program allowing active volunteer firefighters to receive tuition reimbursement for the successful completion of undergraduate courses at a State University of New York College. Creation of this program will provide New York's volunteer fire companies with a valuable incentive to use in the recruiting and retain- ing of individuals to serve as volunteer firefighters in their communi- ty.
Legislative history
2017-2018: S. 755A / A3234A 2015-2016: S1829A / A5162 2013-2014: S5374 /
Fiscal implications
Subject to budgetary appropriation.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.