What's happening
This bill repeals the ban on incarcerated individuals receiving student financial aid awards in New York.
Why it matters
Expanding access to education in prisons. By allowing incarcerated individuals to receive student financial aid, the bill opens pathways for inmates to pursue college or vocational education, which research shows can significantly reduce recidivism rates and promote rehabilitation.
Potential for improved post-release outcomes. Access to financial aid enables incarcerated people to gain qualifications and skills during their sentence, increasing their chances of finding stable employment and reintegrating successfully into society upon release.
Impact on families and communities. Educating people while incarcerated can have positive ripple effects, including stronger family connections and reduced intergenerational cycles of incarceration, ultimately benefitting entire communities.
Resource implications for colleges and the state. Repealing the ban may lead to higher enrollment in prison education programs, requiring coordination between correctional facilities and educational institutions, as well as potential increases in state and federal financial aid expenditures.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Restore Prisoner Education Aid
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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.
Allow Prisoner Academic Awards
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Jeffrion Aubry
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
790
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sens. MONTGOMERY, COMRIE, HOYLMAN, KRUEGER, PARKER, RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to repeal paragraph d of subdivision 6 of section 661 of the education law relating to the ban on incarcerated persons for receiving student financial aid awards
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph d of subdivision 6 of section 661 of the education law is REPEALED.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02884-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to repeal paragraph d of subdivision 6 of section 661 of the education law relating to the ban on incarcerated persons for receiving student financial aid awards
Purpose
Repeals ban on incarcerated persons receiving student financial aid awards.
Summary of provisions
By repealing the ban on academic performance awards, inmates would once again be eligible to receive awards from the State's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).
Justification
Until 1995, inmates in state correctional facilities were eligible to receive TAP awards in order to pursue higher education. In the interest of reducing recidivism, such awards should be made available to those inmates who wish to use their period of incarceration to pursue their education and thereby better their chances to reenter society as produc- tive, law-abiding citizens.
Legislative history
1999-2000: S.6664 Died in Committee 2001-2002: S.1045 Died in Committee 2003-2004: S.1630 Died in Committee 2005-2006: S.1480 Died in Committee 2007-2008: S.4085 Died in Committee 2009-2010: S.1288 Died in Committee 2011-2012: S.369 Died in Committee 2013-2014: S.1367 Died in Committee
Fiscal implications
While it is not possible to predict exactly how many inmates might participate should they once again be eligible, the program cost approx- imately $5 million per year.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.