BILL NUMBER: S7580A
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to scholarships for
academic excellence
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to enable Scholarships for Academic Excel-
lence to be fully utilized.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The bill amends subdivision 2 of section 605-a of the education law to
provide that if an award is declined by a student prior to the end of
their high school program, the scholarship shall be awarded, to the
extent practicable, to the next most qualified student.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
The amendment modifies the effective date and provisions related to
awarding the scholarship to the next most qualified student.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current law provides for 8,000 Scholarships for Academic Excellence
annually. The top scholar of each public or private high school in the
state is eligible for a scholarship and the remaining balance of the
awards are distributed to students using a weighted average of scores
from certain Regents examinations. Unfortunately, if a student declines
the scholarship or such scholarship is revoked, the scholarship goes
unused. This legislation would award the scholarship to the next most
qualified student in the event that a student declines an award.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: Referred to the Committee on Higher Education
2021-22: A06827; Referred to the Committee on Higher Education
2019-20: A2958; Referred to the Committee on Higher Education
2017-18: A3634; Referred to the Committee on Higher Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act would take effect July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S7580: 605-a education law, 605-a(2) education law
S7580A: 605-a education law, 605-a(2) education law