BILL NUMBER: S5155
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to student loan assist-
ance for certain attorneys employed by political subdivisions of the
state
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would allow attorneys employed by municipalities to apply for
student loan assistance if the agency that employs them provides social
or protective service to indigent adults and children.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Section 679-E of the Education Law to allow attorneys
employed by municipalities to apply for student loan assistance if the
agency that employs them provides social or protective service to indi-
gent adults and children.
Section 2 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently attorneys employed by district attorneys and not for profit
legal services entities may apply for student loan assistance under this
section of the Education Law. The attorneys added to coverage by the
bill provide vital public services similar to those already covered such
as attorneys employed by district attorneys and not for profit legal
services corporations. For instance, attorneys employed by the City of
New York provide social and protective services through agencies such as
the Administration for Children's Services, the Department of Social
Services, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the
Housing Authority, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the
Department of Youth and Community Development, and the Office of the
Aging. There are about five hundred attorneys employed by the City of
New York in agencies that provide these vital social and protective
services. Of these, about half have student loans, some in excess of
$100,000. This bill would aid in retention of experienced attorneys and
provide an incentive for attorneys to enter public service.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.4964 - Referred to Higher Education
2021-2022: S.2018 - Referred to Higher Education
2019-2020: A.5460-A - Referred to Higher Education/S.4045-A - Referred
to Higher Education
2017-2018: A.10810-A - Referred to Higher Education/S.8013 - Referred to
Higher Education
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become a
law.