BILL NUMBER: S484
SPONSOR: OBERACKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the rural
teacher education loan repayment program
 
PURPOSE:
To establish a rural teacher education loan repayment program to provide
loans to teachers who commit to teaching in an underserved rural area of
the state.
 
EXISTING LAW:
No current program exists.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 - Adds a new section 676-a to the education law to authorize
the commissioner of education in consultation with the higher education
services corporation to develop a rural teacher education loan repayment
program. The program would provide awards of up to $20,000 per year to
teachers who commit to serve in a designated rural underserved area for
a minimum five-year period. Rural areas are defined as counties with a
population of 200,000 or less or towns of with a population density of
150 or less per square mile. The bill establishes a loan recapture
provision should the recipient fail to fulfill the completion of his or
her five-year term of service.
Section 2 - Establishes an effective date 120 days after enactment.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The bill addresses the critical need for teachers to serve in rural
areas of the state. Historically, it has been difficult for rural school
districts to attract and retain teachers in areas such as the Southern
Tier and Western New York. The bill will grant the commissioner of
education the authority to develop a loan repayment program for teachers
who commit to working in underserved areas of the state for at least
five years. It provides the commissioner flexibility in determining
qualifying regions of the state.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.1167 - 2023-2024
S.5367 - 2021-2020
S.4838 -2019-2020
S.8302 - 2018
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
120 days after becoming a law provided, however, that the commissioner
shall have the power to immediately promulgate any rules or regulations
necessary for the implementation of this act.