BILL NUMBER: S1113
SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing loan
forgiveness for social workers
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To encourage social workers to seek employment in underserved and rural
communities by providing them student loan forgiveness awards.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 679k.
that authorizes the president to grant student loan forgiveness awards
for the purpose of alleviating the burden of student loan debt for
social workers in New York state.
Section 2 establishes eligibility and identifies the communities where
the program will be in effect. Section 3 establishes that the awards
will be based on the availability of funds.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Social workers support countless individuals, offering assistance in
hospitals, public clinics and various community settings. Amid a tight
labor market affecting nearly every occupation, the shortage of social
workers has emerged as a pressing issue.
There are thousands of social worker job openings going unfilled, espe-
cially in the 44 counties in the State that have populations of less
than 200,000 residents and in the 71 towns in non-rural counties where
the population densities are less than 150 people per square mile.
To encourage graduates of approved NYS colleges and universities to
commit to practice in these underserved communities, The Social Worker
Student Loan Incentive Program will grant student loan forgiveness
awards.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S8218 (May) / A8375 (Gunter)
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become
law.