What's happening
This bill allows recipients of certain memorial scholarships in New York to attend college part-time without losing eligibility and extends award duration for part-time students.
Why it matters
Expands access to memorial scholarships. by allowing recipients (including children, spouses, and financial dependents of deceased first responders and World Trade Center victims) to pursue part-time college studies without losing their financial support, making higher education more feasible for those balancing work, family, or other obligations.
Removes a barrier for nontraditional students. who may not be able to attend college full-time due to employment or caregiving responsibilities, ensuring that financial assistance is not restricted only to those enrolled full-time.
Extends the total duration of scholarship eligibility. for part-time students, so that individuals who take fewer courses per semester do not exhaust their awards before completing their degree, supporting degree completion for those on a slower academic track.
Aligns scholarship rules with real-life student needs. , recognizing that recipients of these scholarships may be in unique circumstances that make full-time study impractical, ultimately improving educational and economic outcomes for affected families.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased emergency responders
Otherwise eligible students could receive memorial scholarships while attending college part-time, with an extended award period.
Students eligible for World Trade Center memorial scholarships
The bill would allow part-time attendance and extend the period during which part-time recipients could receive awards.
State education commissioner
The bill would use the commissioner's definition of part-time attendance to determine eligibility and extensions of scholarship award periods.
Headline styles
Expand Memorial Scholarship Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committee discharged and committed to higher education
- Referred to 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.
Expand Memorial Scholarship Access
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Steve Stern
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7079
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2020
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to world trade center memorial scholarships and memorial scholarships for children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers, and emergency medical service workers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 668-b of the education law, as amended by chapter 176 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision four of section six hundred sixty-one of this part, students otherwise eligible may receive an award under this section for part-time attendance as defined by the commissioner.
3. Awards under this section shall be payable for each of not more than four academic years of undergraduate study or five academic years if a program normally requires five years, as defined by the commissioner pursuant to article thirteen of this title; provided, however that such period shall be extended for recipients who attend part-time as defined by the commissioner.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 668-d of the education law, as added by chapter 176 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
3. Part-time attendance. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision four of section six hundred sixty-one of this part, students otherwise eligible may receive an award under this section for part-time attendance as defined by the commissioner.
4. Duration. Awards under this section shall be payable for each of not more than four academic years of undergraduate study or five academic years if a program normally requires five years, as defined by the commissioner pursuant to article thirteen of this title; provided, however that such period shall be extended for recipients who attend part-time as defined by the commissioner.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13780-01-9
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 world trade center memorial scholarships and memorial scholarships for children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefight- ers, police officers, peace officers, and emergency medical service workers
Purpose
This legislation will expand the current fallen memorial scholarship programs by allowing children and widows to study part time.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amend subdivision 2 of Section 668b of the education law to allow part time attendance, as defined by the commissioner for the memo- rial scholarship
Section 2. Amend subdivision 2 of Section 668d of the education law to allow part time attendance, as defined by the commissioner for the WTC scholarship
Section 3. Effective Date
Justification
These two scholarship programs are a great asset to the families of fallen heroes and allow their dependents to get a college education. Unfortunately, under the current law, the individual must be in school full time in order to qualify for the scholarship. Many widows and chil- dren take on full or part time jobs in addition to school, which causes them to pursue a college education through part time study. By expanding the program, many more individuals will be able to qualify for this great memorial scholarship program and provide new affordable educa- tional opportunities to surviving family members of the World Trade Center and of fallen officers, firefighters, EMS workers and peace offi- cers.
Under the current program, a recipient is eligible if they are a finan- cial dependent of a firefighter (paid or volunteer), police officer, correction officer, peace officer or emergency medical service worker who died as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. These dependents are eligible for $15,750 a year or $24,250 depending on whether they live on campus. The funds can then be used for a variety of needs such as tuition, room and board, books, supplies and transporta- tion to school.
This important scholarship program is critical for those who would like to pursue a postsecondary education after losing a loved one. Losing a loved one, especially one who loses their life in the service to the State of New York, should not be a barrier to receiving a college educa- tion. By enacting this legislation, the memorial scholarships will be more inclusive of different families who may need to attend college part time due to work or other financial commitments.
Prior legislative history
None
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.