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.
Summary
S03139 establishes a statewide tuition benefit for active volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical services providers, and volunteer auxiliary police officers who are enrolled at SUNY, CUNY, or a community college in New York. The bill directs the governing bodies of those systems to create a program allowing eligible students to attend one class per semester without paying tuition or fees, so long as the course counts toward one undergraduate degree program.
To qualify, a student must be eligible for resident tuition, provide proof of membership in good standing with the relevant volunteer organization, and remain in good standing throughout the academic program. The student must also maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and apply for other available aid first, including TAP and, if eligible, the Excelsior Scholarship. The bill makes clear that the tuition waiver applies only after those awards are applied and does not cover housing, fees, or other non-tuition charges.
Impact
The bill would amend the Education Law by adding new tuition-waiver provisions for SUNY, CUNY, and community colleges, creating a new statutory obligation for the trustees or governing bodies of those institutions to administer the program. It would expand state higher-education aid policy by layering a targeted benefit on top of existing student aid programs, while limiting the benefit to one class per semester and to students pursuing one undergraduate degree. The act would take effect July 1, 2027.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, as reflected by its bipartisan sponsorship and its framing as a recognition of public service by volunteer first responders and auxiliary police officers. No committee transcript or recorded vote is provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the supplied materials. The bill appears to be presented as a support measure for recruitment and retention of volunteers who provide emergency and public safety services.
Contention
The main policy constraints in the bill are likely to be the limited scope of the benefit and the administrative requirements. The tuition waiver is restricted to one class per semester, only applies to resident-tuition-eligible students, and requires continued membership in good standing plus a minimum 2.5 GPA. Potential points of contention could include the fiscal impact on SUNY, CUNY, and community colleges, the fairness of limiting the benefit to certain volunteer roles, and whether the program is sufficiently generous to meaningfully support volunteers. No specific objections are documented in the provided record.
Same As
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.
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.
Creates a volunteer firefighter scholarship program and a volunteer firefighter scholarship fund; rewards volunteer firefighters who respond to twenty-five percent of emergency calls for eight years with a student loan award equal to four times the SUNY tuition rate; makes an appropriation therefor.
Expands volunteerism by making use of the databases of statewide aging organizations; institutes volunteer certificate programs which train volunteers and individuals in programs to use the volunteers.
Provides cancer screening and treatment for retired volunteer firefighters; defines retired volunteer firefighters; retroactively applies to retired volunteer firefighters.
Provides tax credit to certain volunteer firefighters, volunteer ambulance workers, volunteer reserve forces officers, auxiliary police officers and volunteer emergency medical personnel under certain circumstances.
Provides annual vehicular access for New York state's active volunteer firefighters and active volunteer ambulance workers and their immediate family at any state park or recreational facility.
Allows volunteer firefighters or emergency services personnel to attend training required under 19 NYCRR 426 without being penalized by their employer; creates tax incentives for employing volunteer firefighters or emergency services personnel.