What's happening
This bill creates a student loan forgiveness program for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers in New York State.
Why it matters
Addresses recruitment and retention challenges. faced by volunteer fire and ambulance departments by providing a financial incentive—helping communities maintain vital emergency services that often struggle to attract and keep volunteers.
Targets recent graduates with student debt. , offering up to $50,000 in loan forgiveness over five years, which could make volunteering feasible for young professionals who might otherwise have to prioritize higher-paying jobs.
Includes a competitive and prioritized selection process. that gives preference to returning recipients, New York-educated applicants, those with more years of service, and individuals with demonstrated economic need—potentially ensuring that the benefit supports both service continuity and those with fewer resources.
Sets clear eligibility and service requirements. (five years of volunteer service, application within five years of graduation), ensuring that recipients make a significant and timely contribution to their communities in exchange for the benefit.
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Who cares
Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers
Eligible applicants with student debt could receive up to $10,000 annually for five years if they apply within five years of college graduation and commit to at least five years of volunteer service in New York.
- Likely support
Volunteer fire and ambulance departments
The program would support recruitment and retention by offering student loan forgiveness tied to a five-year service commitment.
Graduates of New York colleges and universities
Applicants with undergraduate or graduate degrees from New York institutions would receive second priority for awards, behind eligible returning recipients.
Applicants with economic need
Those who did not receive an award during the program’s first year could receive fourth priority if they demonstrate economic need.
Headline styles
Erase Loans for Volunteers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to rules
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6732
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
September 20, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the New York state volunteer first responder loan forgiveness incentive 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 679-k to read as follows:
§ 679-k. New York state volunteer first responder loan forgiveness incentive program. 1. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan forgiveness awards for the purpose of attracting and retaining volunteer ambulance workers, as defined in section three of the volunteer ambulance workers' benefit law, and volunteer firefighters, as defined in section three of the volunteer firefighters' benefit law. Such awards shall be made on a competitive basis, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the corporation for such purposes, to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.
2. Eligibility. To be eligible for an award pursuant to this section, applicants shall:
a. have outstanding student loan debt;
b. agree to work in a voluntary fire or ambulatory department in New York state for a period of no less than five years;
c. apply for this program within five years of college graduation; and
d. comply with subdivisions three and five of section six hundred sixty-one of this part.
3. Awards. Awards shall be granted to qualified applicants in the amount of up to ten thousand dollars per year, per applicant, not to exceed a duration of five years and not to exceed the total amount of such applicant's student loan debt. The corporation shall grant such awards within amounts appropriated for such purposes and based on the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04272-01-9
S. 6732 2
availability of funds. No one applicant shall receive more than a total of fifty thousand dollars upon the end of a five-year period.
4. Priority. First priority shall be given to applicants who have received payment of an award pursuant to this section in a prior year and remain eligible. Second priority shall be given to applicants who have graduated and obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university located in New York state. Third priority shall be given to applicants who are completing the second, third, fourth or fifth year of service at a voluntary fire or ambulatory department in New York. Fourth priority shall be given to an applicant who can demonstrate economic need but did not receive an award during the first year of this program's operation. If larger numbers of applicants are eligible pursuant to this subdivision than funds available, applicants shall be chosen pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the corporation; provided, however, that each applicant chosen shall receive an award of up to ten thousand dollars in each year such applicant is accepted into the program.
5. Rules and regulations. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations, and may promulgate emergency regulations, necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this section.
§ 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 establishing the New York state volunteer first responder loan forgive- ness incentive program
Purpose
To provide student loan forgiveness to volunteer first responders who make a five year commitment to work in a voluntary fire or ambulatory department in New York state.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends the education law by adding a new section § 679-k.
1. Establishes the purpose of this legislation
2. Provides the eligibility requirements for the award, applicants must:
a. have outstanding student loan debt
b. make a five year commitment to the volunteer fire or ambulatory company
c. apply within five years of college graduation
d. Comply with section 661 of the education law
3. Establishes amount of the awards for eligible applicants
4. States how the priority of application will be applied
5. Mandate that the rules and regulations will be established by the State Education Department
Section 2. Effective date.
Existing law
New legislation.
Justification
In New York State, nearly 95%1 of fire departments are partially or entirely volunteer-run, often including emergency medical services with- in their departments. Currently, these organizations are facing major obstacles in terms of retention and recruitment. Volunteer emergency personnel are an aging demographic; additionally, it's often difficult to attract new volunteers when there are more demands than ever in young people's lives.
The aging workforce and the difficulty with retention, combined with the fact that in the last 30 years call volume has tripled,*has left volun- teer fire and ambulatory departments across New York State strapped for resources.
In New York State, the average college debt burden is $30,000 per student, ranking New York as having the 18th highest student debt among the states**.This legislation would establish a loan forgiveness program for New York State residents that commitment a minimum of five years to a volunteer fire or ambulatory department. This will incentivize members of the community to become volunteer first responders, while lifting a major financial burden for young people in our communities.
Legislative history
2018: S8359
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately. *. U.S. Fire Department Profile - 2015. National Fire Protection Associ- ation, Quincy, MA, April 2017 **. Institute for College Access & Success NYS
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.