What's happening
This bill allows New York counties to offer tuition assistance grants to volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel at public colleges, with state reimbursement for half the cost.
Why it matters
Helps recruit and retain volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel. by making public college more affordable, addressing critical shortages in these vital community services.
Reduces financial barriers for local volunteers. who serve their communities, potentially making higher education accessible to those who might otherwise struggle to afford it.
Shares funding responsibility between counties and the state. , so local governments are encouraged to participate without bearing the full financial burden, and the state’s partial reimbursement makes the program more sustainable.
Focuses on in-state public colleges and part-time or greater enrollment. , thereby channeling support to institutions that serve New Yorkers and accommodating volunteers who may not be able to attend school full-time due to their service commitments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
College Aid for Volunteer Responders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Tuition Aid for First Responders
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
577
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- 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 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02141-01-9
S. 577 2
grant program to provide tuition assistance to volunteer 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a volun- teer firefighters and emergency medical service volunteer tuition assistance grant program
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation would help to address the continuing difficulty local volunteer fire and emergency medical service (EMS) departments have had recruiting and retaining volunteers. This difficulty is particularly true for young people who are hard pressed to pursue their careers and their education while volunteering for these critically important services.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 adds a new section 609-a to the education law, to allow coun- ties to establish a local tuition grants program for active volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel at state operated institutions. The grant can be for up to fifty percent of tuition required at state operated institutions or community colleges. This legislation also provides that, where a county has created a tuition grants program, the state would reimburse the county at one-half the actual tuition grant established by the county for each eligible volunteer.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
During the last several years it has become increasingly difficult for local volunteer fire and EMS departments to recruit and retain new members. The demands on young people to meet various responsibilities in their family and personal lives continue to grow. Family life, career development, and other demands limit people's ability to volunteer their time. This is particularly true for volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel, who need special training in light of the life-threatening situations they are exposed to and confronted with at any given time.
Over the last decade, the legislature has taken a variety of steps to protect volunteers and their families. This includes special insurance protection and retirement benefits for these volunteers. However, these incentives lend themselves to long tenured members and provide little, if any, incentive for young people to become involved.
This legislation attempts to provide some direct help by focusing on education. This should help local fire and EMS departments recruit young people who are attending college but are willing to volunteer their time to become part of a local firefighter or emergency medical services organization.
Prior legislative history
2008: S.7094/A.1194 2009: S.2697/A.6029 2011-12: S.4724/A.5147 Referred to Higher Education 2013-14: S.534 Referred to Higher Education 2015-16: S.650 Referred to Higher Education 2017-18: S.1813/A.6092
Fiscal implications
At county option.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to academic semesters, quarters and classroom hours beginning on or after January 1, 2021.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.