New York A 9131: Establishes the foster care higher education scholarship pilot program

Bill Text

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A09131 Summary:

BILL NOA09131 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORSimon

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COSPNSRSimone, Shimsky, DeStefano, Sempolinski

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §604, add §668-h, Ed L

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Establishes the foster care higher education scholarship pilot program; grants awards for the purpose of enhancing opportunities for higher education for children and young adults receiving foster care services in New York.

Go to top A09131 Actions:

BILL NOA09131 

&nbsp

09/26/2025referred to higher education

01/07/2026referred to higher education

Go to topA09131 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA09131 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA09131 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9131

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 September 26, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee
 on Higher Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating the "foster
 care higher education scholarship pilot program"; and providing for
 the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "foster care higher education scholarship pilot program".
 3 § 2. Section 604 of the education law is amended by adding a new
 4 subdivision 13 to read as follows:
 5 13. Foster care higher education scholarship pilot program pursuant to
 6 section six hundred sixty-eight-h of this title.
 7 § 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 668-h to
 8 read as follows:
 9 § 668-h. Foster care higher education scholarship pilot program. 1.
 10 Purpose. The president shall establish a pilot program for the purpose
 11 of granting scholarship awards to enhance opportunities for higher
 12 education for children and young adults who are receiving, or who have
 13 received, foster care services in New York state. Such scholarship
 14 awards shall be available for the tuition and non-tuition costs of
 15 eligible students enrolled in approved in-state undergraduate programs
 16 or vocational training programs.
 17 2. Definitions. As used in this section, the term:
 18 (a) "Tuition" means the total semester, quarter, or credit hour cost
 19 of instruction to the student as periodically published in the catalogue
 20 of the institutions, specifically excluding mandatory fees, book charg-
 21 es, and room and board.
 22 (b) "Non-tuition cost of attendance" means (i) the actual amount
 23 charged by the institution for room and board, and (ii) an allowance for
 24 transportation, books, supplies, and personal expenses as determined by

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD08521-01-5

 A. 9131 2

 1 the president and as approved by the director of the budget, provided
 2 that such determination shall be made no later than December first of
 3 each year for use in the succeeding academic year. In the event a
 4 student does not incur room or board charges at the institution, "non-
 5 tuition cost of attendance" shall mean an allowance for room and board
 6 as determined by the president and approved by the director of the budg-
 7 et. In determining allowances pursuant to this paragraph, the president
 8 may take into consideration the allowances provided for in the Pell
 9 grant program pursuant to section 1070-a of title 20 of the United
 10 states Code.
 11 (c) "Part-time study" means enrollment for at least three but less
 12 than twelve semester hours per semester, or the equivalent, in an
 13 approved undergraduate program.
 14 (d) "Full-time study" shall mean enrollment for at least twelve credit
 15 hours per semester, or the equivalent, in an approved undergraduate
 16 program.
 17 (e) "Approved vocational training programs" means in-state programs
 18 offered by agencies approved by the commissioner for funding pursuant to
 19 this section. The commissioner shall approve only such non-credit
 20 programs which are at least three hundred twenty clock hours in length,
 21 and which meet standards of instructional quality established in regu-
 22 lati