Bill Text: NY A00567 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: An act to amend the education law, in relation to creating the "TAP reform act"

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 34-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - referred to higher education [A00567 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-A00567-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                          567
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                      (PREFILED)
                                    January 7, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by M. of A. CAHILL, PHEFFER, SCHIMMINGER, N. RIVERA, JACOBS,
         EDDINGTON,  ROBINSON,  ENGLEBRIGHT,   CYMBROWITZ,   CUSICK,   PEOPLES,
         DelMONTE, CAMARA, BOYLAND -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BENEDETTO,
         BENJAMIN,  BRADLEY,  BRENNAN,  BRODSKY, COLTON, COOK, DIAZ, ESPAILLAT,
         GREENE, GUNTHER, HIKIND,  JOHN,  LANCMAN,  LAVINE,  LUPARDO,  McENENY,
         MILLMAN, PERRY, POWELL, REILLY, SCARBOROUGH, SEMINERIO, SWEENEY, WEIS-
         ENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
       AN  ACT  to  amend  the  education law, in relation to creating the "TAP
         reform act"
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "TAP reform
    2  act".
    3    S  2.  Subdivision 5 of section 663 of the education law is amended by
    4  adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
    5    (C) (I) IN THE DETERMINATION OF INCOME  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  SUBDIVISION
    6  THREE OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN OF THIS PART, STUDENT FINANCIAL
    7  AID  OFFICERS ARE HEREBY AUTHORIZED, ON THE BASIS OF ADEQUATE DOCUMENTA-
    8  TION, TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS IN THE  AMOUNT  DEEMED
    9  APPLICABLE  INCOME  IN DETERMINING AN APPLICANT'S AWARD FOR THE ACADEMIC
   10  YEAR, TO ALLOW FOR TREATMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL, ELIGIBLE  APPLICANT  WITH
   11  SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AS DEFINED HEREIN.
   12    (II)  SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MAY INCLUDE: (A) EXPENSES OF THE FOLLOWING
   13  NATURE INCURRED OR PAID BY ONE OR MORE OF  EITHER  THE  PARENTS  OF  THE
   14  APPLICANT  OR  OTHER  DEPENDENT CHILD OF SUCH PARENTS, THE SPOUSE OF THE
   15  APPLICANT, OR ONE OR MORE DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF THE APPLICANT,  SUCH  AS
   16  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO:  TUITION  EXPENSES  AT AN ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY
   17  SCHOOL, MEDICAL OR DENTAL EXPENSES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE, AND  UNUSU-
   18  ALLY  HIGH  CHILD CARE COSTS, (B) RECENT UNEMPLOYMENT OF A FAMILY MEMBER
   19  NECESSITATING CONTRIBUTIONS BY ANY OF THE AFORESAID PERSONS TO THE FAMI-
   20  LY MEMBER'S SUPPORT, OR (C) OTHER CHANGES IN THE  FAMILY'S  INCOME,  THE
   21  FAMILY'S  ASSETS,  OR A STUDENT'S STATUS. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL BE
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD00611-01-9
       A. 567                              2
    1  CONDITIONS THAT DIFFERENTIATE AN INDIVIDUAL  STUDENT  FROM  A  CLASS  OF
    2  STUDENTS RATHER THAN CONDITIONS THAT EXIST ACROSS A CLASS OF STUDENTS.
    3    (III) ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION FOR SUCH ADJUSTMENTS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO
    4  SUBSTANTIATE  SUCH SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. NOTHING
    5  IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE INTERPRETED AS LIMITING THE AUTHORITY OF  THE
    6  STUDENT  FINANCIAL  AID OFFICER IN SUCH CASES TO REQUEST AND USE SUPPLE-
    7  MENTARY INFORMATION ABOUT THE FINANCIAL STATUS OR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES
    8  OF SUCH APPLICANTS IN SELECTING RECIPIENTS AND DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF
    9  AWARDS UNDER SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION  SIX  HUNDRED  SIXTY-SEVEN  OF
   10  THIS  PART.  NO STUDENT OR PARENT SHALL BE CHARGED A FEE FOR COLLECTING,
   11  PROCESSING, OR DELIVERING SUCH SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
   12    (IV) A STUDENT FINANCIAL AID OFFICER SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE  MAKING
   13  A NECESSARY ADJUSTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARA-
   14  GRAPH IF:
   15    (A)  THE  OFFICER  MAKES  ADJUSTMENTS EXCLUDING FROM FAMILY INCOME ANY
   16  PROCEEDS OF A SALE OF FARM OR BUSINESS ASSETS OF A FAMILY IF  SUCH  SALE
   17  RESULTS FROM A VOLUNTARY OR INVOLUNTARY FORECLOSURE, FORFEITURE OR BANK-
   18  RUPTCY OR AN INVOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION, OR
   19    (B) THE OFFICER MAKES ADJUSTMENTS IN THE AWARD LEVEL OF A STUDENT WITH
   20  A  DISABILITY SO AS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADDITIONAL COSTS SUCH
   21  STUDENT INCURS AS A RESULT OF SUCH STUDENT'S DISABILITY.
   22    S 3. Subdivision 1 of section 667 of the education law, as amended  by
   23  chapter 622 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
   24    1.  Recipient  qualifications.  Tuition  assistance program awards are
   25  available for all students who are enrolled in approved programs and who
   26  demonstrate the ability to complete such  courses,  in  accordance  with
   27  standards  established  by  the  commissioner provided, however, that no
   28  award shall be made unless tuition [(exclusive of educational fees)] AND
   29  ANY MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL FEES  and,  if  applicable,  the  college  fee
   30  levied  by the state university of New York pursuant to the April first,
   31  nineteen hundred sixty-four financing agreements with the New York state
   32  dormitory authority charged for the program  in  which  the  student  is
   33  enrolled  total  at  least  two  hundred dollars a year[,]; and provided
   34  further that[,] no award [can] SHALL exceed one hundred percent  of  the
   35  amount of tuition charged.
   36    S  4. Subclause (c) of clause (A) of subparagraph (i) and subparagraph
   37  (vi) of paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section  667  of  the  education
   38  law,  as  amended  by  section  1 of part B of chapter 60 of the laws of
   39  2000, are amended and clause (A)  of  subparagraph  (i)  is  amended  by
   40  adding two new subclauses (d) and (e) to read as follows:
   41    (c)  For students first receiving aid in [the] two thousand--two thou-
   42  sand one and  [thereafter]  BEFORE  TWO  THOUSAND  ELEVEN--TWO  THOUSAND
   43  TWELVE, five thousand dollars[.]; OR
   44    (D) FOR STUDENTS FIRST RECEIVING AID IN TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN--TWO THOU-
   45  SAND TWELVE, FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS; OR
   46    (E) FOR STUDENTS FIRST RECEIVING AID IN TWO THOUSAND TWELVE--TWO THOU-
   47  SAND THIRTEEN AND THEREAFTER, SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS.
   48    (vi)  For  the  two thousand [two] ELEVEN--two thousand [three] TWELVE
   49  academic year and thereafter, the award shall be the net amount  of  the
   50  base  amount  determined  pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph
   51  reduced pursuant to subparagraph (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph but the
   52  award shall not be reduced below [five] NINE hundred FIFTY dollars;  AND
   53  ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH ACADEMIC YEAR AND THEREAFTER.
   54    S 5. Clause (B) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph a of subdivision 3 of
   55  section  667  of the education law, as amended by section 1 of part B of
   56  chapter 60 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
       A. 567                              3
    1    (B) (1) Ninety-five percent of the amount of  tuition  [(exclusive  of
    2  educational  fees) charged and, if applicable, the college fee levied by
    3  the state university of New York pursuant to the April  first,  nineteen
    4  hundred sixty-four financing agreement with the New York state dormitory
    5  authority] AND ANY MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL FEES.
    6    (2) For the two thousand one--two thousand two academic year and ther-
    7  eafter,  one  hundred  percent  of  the amount of tuition [(exclusive of
    8  educational fees) charged and, if applicable, the college fee levied  by
    9  the  state  university of New York pursuant to the April first, nineteen
   10  hundred sixty-four financing agreement with the New York state dormitory
   11  authority] AND ANY MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL FEES.
   12    S 6. Clause (B) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph b of subdivision 3 of
   13  section 667 of the education law, as amended by section 2 of part  B  of
   14  chapter 60 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
   15    (B)  (1)  Ninety-five  percent of the amount of tuition [(exclusive of
   16  educational fees)] AND ANY MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL FEES charged.
   17    (2) For the two thousand one--two thousand two academic year and ther-
   18  eafter, one hundred percent of the  amount  of  tuition  [(exclusive  of
   19  educational fees)] AND ANY MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL FEES.
   20    S 7. Clause (B) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph c of subdivision 3 of
   21  section  667  of the education law, as amended by section 4 of part B of
   22  chapter 60 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
   23    (B) (1) Ninety-five percent of the amount of  tuition  [(exclusive  of
   24  education fees)] AND ANY MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL FEES charged.
   25    (2) For the two thousand one--two thousand two academic year and ther-
   26  eafter,  one  hundred  percent  of  the amount of tuition [(exclusive of
   27  educational fees)] AND ANY MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL FEES.
   28    S 8. Subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph d  of  subdivision  3  of
   29  section  667 of the education law, as added by chapter 83 of the laws of
   30  1995, are amended to read as follows:
   31    (i) be made unless  the  annual  tuition  [(exclusive  of  educational
   32  fees)]  AND  ANY  MANDATORY  EDUCATIONAL  FEES  and,  if applicable, the
   33  college fee levied by the state university of New York pursuant  to  the
   34  April  first,  nineteen  hundred sixty-four financing agreement with the
   35  New York state dormitory authority charged for the program in which  the
   36  student is enrolled total at least two hundred dollars; or
   37    (ii)  exceed  the  amount  by which such annual tuition [(exclusive of
   38  educational fees)] AND ANY MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL FEES and,  if  applica-
   39  ble, the college fee levied by the state university of New York pursuant
   40  to the April first, nineteen hundred sixty-four financing agreement with
   41  the  New  York  state  dormitory authority exceed the total of all other
   42  state, federal, or other educational aid that is received or  receivable
   43  by  such student during the school year for which such award is applica-
   44  ble and that, in the judgment of the commissioner, would  duplicate  the
   45  purposes of the award; or
   46    S  9. Section 2 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdi-
   47  vision 25 to read as follows:
   48    25. MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL FEE. THE TERM  "MANDATORY  EDUCATIONAL  FEE"
   49  INCLUDES ONLY THOSE FEES REQUIRED TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF A GRAD-
   50  UATE OR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH TERM EXCLUDES
   51  THOSE FEES IMPOSED BY A VOTE OF THE STUDENT BODY.
   52    S 10. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amend-
   53  ments  to  section  663 of the education law made by section two of this
   54  act shall apply to determinations made on or after such effective date.
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