New York A 5863: Relates to providing free SUNY, CUNY, and community college tuition to active volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical services providers, and volunteer auxiliary police officers

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A05863 Summary:

BILL NOA05863 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORColton

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COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§355, 6206 & 6304, Ed L

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Establishes a statewide program to provide free SUNY, CUNY, and community college tuition to active volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical services providers, and volunteer auxiliary police officers.

Go to top A05863 Actions:

BILL NOA05863 

&nbsp

02/24/2025referred to higher education

01/07/2026referred to higher education

Go to topA05863 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA05863 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA05863 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5863

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 February 24, 2025
 ___________

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

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing free SUNY,
 CUNY and community college tuition to active volunteer firefighters,
 volunteer emergency medical services providers, and volunteer auxilia-
 ry police officers

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

 1 Section 1. Paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the educa-
 2 tion law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 1-a to read as follows:
 3 (1-a) The trustees shall implement a program to permit any student who
 4 has been admitted to a state-operated institution of the state universi-
 5 ty to attend without the payment of tuition and fees if such student
 6 serves as an active volunteer firefighter, as defined in subdivision one
 7 of section two hundred fifteen of the general municipal law, volunteer
 8 emergency medical services provider, or volunteer auxiliary police offi-
 9 cer. The provisions of this subparagraph shall only apply to costs of
 10 one undergraduate degree and any additional costs associated with more
 11 than one simultaneous undergraduate degree shall not be covered by this
 12 program.
 13 (i) The trustees shall provide an application process and administer
 14 the program according to the following criteria:
 15 (A) Any student eligible for resident tuition rates is eligible for
 16 this program, provided that at the time of application, such student
 17 submits proof of membership in good standing of a volunteer fire company
 18 or department, volunteer emergency medical services provider or a volun-
 19 teer auxiliary police officer of a police department within the state of
 20 New York.
 21 (B) The student shall be required to maintain status as a member in
 22 good standing of the volunteer fire company or department, volunteer
 23 emergency medical service provider or police department in which such
 24 student serves as an auxiliary police officer through the completion of
 25 such student's academic program.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD03276-01-5

 A. 5863 2

 1 (C) The student shall be required to maintain a cumulative grade point
 2 average (G.P.A.) of at least 2.5 in order to remain eligible for the
 3 program.
 4 (ii) If a student or former student fails to fulfill any of the
 5 requirements set forth in clause (i) of this subparagraph, the trustees
 6 shall convert to a student loan the full amount of the tuition which
 7 would have been paid by such student, as determined by the New York
 8 state higher education services corporation, plus interest, according to
 9 a schedule to be determined by such corporation. Such repayment may also
 10 be required if a recipient fails to respond to requests for information
 11 necessary to determine continued eligibility or for administration of
 12 the program.
 13 (iii) Any student who elects to participate in the program under this
 14 subparagraph shall be required to apply for tuition assistance program
 15 funding. Funds awarded on the tuition assistance program shall be
 16 applied towards the cost of tuition prior to an award under this clause.
 17 (iv) Any student who elects to participate in the program under this
 18 subparagraph and is otherwise eligible for the excelsior scholarship
 19 program shall be required to apply for sam