BILL NUMBER: S7372
SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to student financial aid
programs
 
PURPOSE:
This act will allow eligible applicants to accrue credited time if they
have taken periods of leave without pay for certain circumstances.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 605 of the education law to allow periods of
leave without pay to be counted towards credited time when-such periods
are taken for purposes of military service, authorized
maternity/paternity leave, family and medical leave, or compensable
injury.
Section 2 amends subpart 4 of part 2 of article 14 of the education law
to allow periods of leave without pay to be counted towards credited
time when such periods are taken for purposes of military service,
authorized maternity/paternity leave, family and medical leave, or
compensable injury.
Section 3 provides that this legislation shall apply retroactively to
have been in effect on January 1, 2010.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York state loan forgiveness programs were created to encourage and
reward certain categories of people for their dedicated service to the
public welfare. Such programs under state law include the nursing facul-
ty loan forgiveness program, the district attorney and indigent legal
services attorney loan forgiveness program, and the licensed social
worker loan forgiveness program.
Under current law, eligible applicants do not receive credited time for
certain periods of leave without pay that are beyond their control such
as military service and injury. This legislation will provide for these
exceptions.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S3768 of 2017-18: referred to Higher Education
S6458 of 2021-22: referred to Higher Education
S1122 of 2023-24: referred to Higher Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been
in full force and effect on and after January 1, 2010.

Statutes affected:
S7372: 605 education law, 605(9) education law