Bill Text: NY A02825 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to redefining science, technology, engineering and math education (STEM).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to higher education [A02825 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-A02825-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2825 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 25, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE, RICHARDSON, WILLIAMS, SIMON -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. DE LA ROSA, ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to redefining science, technology, engineering, and math education (STEM) The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature hereby 2 finds that the state requires a comprehensive approach to science, tech- 3 nology, engineering, and math education (STEM). Under current law, 4 little to no incentives or programmatic funding exists to push STEM 5 education forward. The legislature further finds it essential to bring 6 back business and industry in STEM education programs by getting them 7 involved for career development. Furthermore, the legislature finds it 8 questionable whether current curriculum focuses on the adequate areas to 9 provide children with the standards needed to fulfill a math or science 10 job opportunity in the future. 11 Therefore be it resolved that the legislature intends to mirror the 12 federal efforts underway to promote STEM and enable New York students to 13 compete internationally in educational fields that drive the global 14 economy and to provide the appropriate funding for STEM programs. 15 § 2. Section 669-e of the education law, as added by section 1 of part 16 BB of chapter 56 of the laws of 2018, subdivision 1 as amended by chap- 17 ter 329 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows: 18 § 669-e. New York state science, technology, engineering and mathemat- 19 ics incentive program. 1. Undergraduate students who are matriculated in 20 an approved undergraduate program leading to a career in science, 21 computer science, technology, engineering, including design skills and 22 practice, or mathematics at a New York state public institution of high- 23 er education for the purpose of subdivision two of this section, or a 24 New York state private degree granting institution of higher education EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00114-01-9A. 2825 2 1 for the purpose of subdivision two-a of this section, shall be eligible 2 for an award under this section, provided the applicant: (a) graduates 3 from a high school located in New York state during or after the two 4 thousand thirteen--fourteen school year; and (b) graduates within the 5 top ten percent of his or her high school class; and (c) enrolls in 6 full-time study each term beginning in the fall term after his or her 7 high school graduation in an approved undergraduate program in science, 8 computer science, technology, engineering, including design skills and 9 practice, or mathematics, as defined by the corporation, at a New York 10 state institution of higher education; and (d) signs a contract with the 11 corporation agreeing that his or her award will be converted to a 12 student loan in the event the student fails to comply with the terms of 13 this program as set forth in subdivision four of this section; and (e) 14 complies with the applicable provisions of this article and all require- 15 ments promulgated by the corporation for the administration of the 16 program. 17 2. Awards shall be granted beginning with the two thousand fourteen-- 18 two thousand fifteen academic year and thereafter to applicants at New 19 York state public institutions of higher education that the corporation 20 has determined are eligible to receive such awards. The corporation 21 shall grant such awards in an amount equal to the amount of undergradu- 22 ate tuition for residents of New York state charged by the state univer- 23 sity of New York or actual tuition charged, whichever is less; provided, 24 however, (i) a student who receives educational grants and/or scholar- 25 ships that cover the student's full cost of attendance shall not be 26 eligible for an award under this program; (ii) for a student who 27 receives educational grants and/or scholarships that cover less than the 28 student's full cost of attendance, such grants and/or scholarships shall 29 not be deemed duplicative of this program and may be held concurrently 30 with an award under this program, provided that the combined benefits do 31 not exceed the student's full cost of attendance; and (iii) an award 32 under this program shall be applied to tuition after the application of 33 all other educational grants and scholarships limited to tuition and 34 shall be reduced in an amount equal to such educational grants and/or 35 scholarships. Upon notification of an award under this program, the 36 institution shall defer the amount of tuition equal to the award. No 37 award shall be final until the recipient's successful completion of a 38 term has been certified by the institution. 39 2-a. Within amounts appropriated therefor and based on availability of 40 funds, beginning with the two thousand eighteen--two thousand nineteen 41 academic year and thereafter, awards shall be granted to applicants at 42 New York state private degree granting institutions of higher education 43 that the corporation has determined are eligible to receive such awards. 44 The corporation shall grant such awards in an amount equal to the amount 45 of undergraduate tuition for residents of New York state charged by the 46 state university of New York or actual tuition charged, whichever is 47 less; provided, however, (i) a student who receives educational grants 48 and/or scholarships that cover the student's full cost of attendance 49 shall not be eligible for an award under this program; (ii) for a 50 student who receives educational grants and/or scholarships that cover 51 less than the student's full cost of attendance, such grants and/or 52 scholarships shall not be deemed duplicative of this program and may be 53 held concurrently with an award under this program, provided that the 54 combined benefits do not exceed the student's full cost of attendance; 55 and (iii) an award under this program shall be applied to tuition after 56 the application of all other educational grants and scholarships limitedA. 2825 3 1 to tuition and shall be reduced in an amount equal to such educational 2 grants and/or scholarships. Upon notification of an award under this 3 program, the institution shall defer the amount of tuition equal to the 4 award. No award shall be final until the recipient's successful 5 completion of a term has been certified by the institution. 6 3. An eligible recipient shall not receive an award for more than four 7 academic years of full-time undergraduate study or five academic years 8 if the program of study normally requires five years, excluding any 9 allowable interruption of study. 10 4. The corporation shall convert to a student loan the full amount of 11 the award given pursuant to this section, plus interest, according to a 12 schedule to be determined by the corporation if: (a) a recipient fails 13 to complete an approved undergraduate program in science, computer 14 science, technology, engineering, including design skills and practice, 15 or mathematics or changes majors to a program of undergraduate study 16 other than in science, computer science, technology, engineering, 17 including design skills and practice, or mathematics; or (b) upon 18 completion of such undergraduate degree program a recipient fails to 19 either (i) complete five years of continuous full time employment in the 20 science, computer science, technology, engineering, including design 21 skills and practice, or mathematics field with a public or private enti- 22 ty located within New York state, or (ii) maintain residency in New York 23 state for such period of employment; or (c) a recipient fails to respond 24 to requests by the corporation for the status of his or her academic or 25 professional progress. The terms and conditions of this subdivision 26 shall be deferred for individuals who graduate with a degree in an 27 approved undergraduate program in science, computer science, technology, 28 engineering, including design skills and practice, or mathematics and 29 enroll on at least a half-time basis in a graduate or higher degree 30 program or other professional licensure degree program until they are 31 conferred a degree, and shall also be deferred for any interruption in 32 undergraduate study or employment as established by the rules and regu- 33 lations of the corporation. The terms and conditions of this subdivision 34 may also be deferred for a grace period, to be established by the corpo- 35 ration, following the completion of an approved undergraduate program in 36 science, computer science, technology, engineering, including design 37 skills and practice, or mathematics a graduate or higher degree program 38 or other professional licensure degree program. Any obligation to comply 39 with such provisions as outlined in this section shall be cancelled upon 40 the death of the recipient. Notwithstanding any provisions of this 41 subdivision to the contrary, the corporation is authorized to promulgate 42 rules and regulations to provide for the waiver or suspension of any 43 financial obligation which would involve extreme hardship. 44 5. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations, 45 and may promulgate emergency regulations, necessary for the implementa- 46 tion of the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, 47 the rate of interest charged for repayment of the student loan and the 48 criteria for distributing the awards, which may include a lottery or 49 other form of random selection for awards distributed pursuant to subdi- 50 vision two-a of this section. 51 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
