BILL NUMBER: S8105
SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to reflecting a change in
circumstance when making adjustments to income
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would expand the circumstances that an applicant for the
tuition assistance program (TAP) and the Excelsior program could have
their income adjusted to take into account for changes that would impact
eligibility and awards.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends section 663 of the education law, in
relation to expanding the circumstances that an adjustment to a TAP
applicant's income to include: (1) loss of employment of the applicant
or parent of the applicant; (2) catastrophic illness of the applicant;
or (3) the applicant or the spouse of the applicant is called to active
military duty.
Section two of the bill amendments section 669-h of the education law,
as it relates to expanding the circumstances for change of income to
include loss of employment of the applicant or the applicant's parent.
Section three of the bill relates to the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In New York State when an applicant is filing for tuition assistance or
the excelsior program, the determination of the award amount is based on
taxable income from 2 years prior. Obviously, there are circumstances
where income. drastically changes and impacts the affordability of high-
er education. Currently, loss of employment, military service or
catastrophic illness is not considered under the narrow criteria on when
the State can look at more recent income. This bill would expand the
circumstances that the tuition assistance program (TAP)and the Excelsior
program may look at more recent income when determine tuition assistance
awards.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.890 of 2021-22 - Assembly Higher Ed Committee
A.7238 of 2019-20 - Assembly Higher Ed Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined

Statutes affected:
S8105: 669-h education law, 669-h(1) education law