BILL NUMBER: S6022
SPONSOR: BASKIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing tuition
assistance program awards for students enrolled in short-term credential
programs offered by certain public institutions
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to allow the president of the Higher Educa-
tion Services Corporation (HESC) to expand the Tuition Assistance
Program (TAP) to include students enrolled in an eligible short-term
credential program offered by certain public institutions.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill would add a new section 667-c-2 to the Education
Law to authorize the president of HESC to expand the availability of the
tuition assistance program to students enrolled in eligible short-term
credential programs offered by SUNY, community colleges, CUNY, or a
board of cooperative educational services. Additionally, this section
would also establish the requirements of the program and provide a
formula for determining the value of the TAP award to be given to a
student enrolled in a short-term credential program.
Section 2 of this bill provides that the effective date shall take
effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This amendment to the Education Law would provide more pathways to high-
er education, job opportunities, and a new way to lift people from abso-
lute poverty by expanding TAP to short-term credential programs. The
expansion of TAP will allow students better access to nontraditional
post-secondary education and enable them to acquire the skills necessary
to gain employment in high demand fields.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S4145 (Mannion) - Referred to Higher Education
2021-22: S.8052 (Reichlin-Melnick) - Referred to Higher Education.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.