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STATE OF NEW YORK
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4628

2011-2012 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

February 4, 2011
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Introduced by M. of A. RAIA, TEDISCO, GIGLIO, KOLB -- Multi-Sponsored by
  --  M. of A. BURLING, BUTLER, CONTE, FITZPATRICK, McDONOUGH, McKEVITT,
  OAKS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating  the  regents
  teacher shortage loan forgiveness program

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  The education law is amended by adding a new section 237-a
to read as follows:
  S 237-A. CRITICAL  SHORTAGES  IN  COMMON  BRANCH  SUBJECT  AREAS.  THE
REGENTS  SHALL,  ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS, REVIEW THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR
PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE  AND  POTEN-
TIAL EXISTENCE OF CRITICAL SHORTAGES IN ANY OF THE COMMON BRANCH SUBJECT
AREAS  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF  DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY CATEGORIES FOR THE
REGENTS TEACHER SHORTAGE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION
SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN-B OF THIS CHAPTER.
  S  2.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 677-b to
read as follows:
  S 677-B. REGENTS TEACHER SHORTAGE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM. 1.  NUMBER
AND CERTIFICATION. ONE THOUSAND ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES  SHALL  BE  SELECTED
ANNUALLY  ON  A  COMPETITIVE BASIS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGENTS TEACHER
SHORTAGE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.  CANDIDATES  MUST  HAVE  SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED  AT  LEAST  THE  SECOND  YEAR  OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDY AND MUST
DEMONSTRATE TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE COMMISSIONER  ACADEMIC  STUDY  IN
ANY  OF THE COMMON BRANCH AREAS OF CRITICAL TEACHER SHORTAGES, AS DETER-
MINED BY THE REGENTS.
  2. DURATION. UPON ISSUANCE OF A PROVISIONAL OR PERMANENT CERTIFICATION
AND EMPLOYMENT IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE, EACH CANDI-
DATE SHALL COMMENCE PARTICIPATION IN THE REGENTS TEACHER  SHORTAGE  LOAN
FORGIVENESS  PROGRAM.  PARTICIPATION  SHALL  CONTINUE  UNTIL  ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING OCCURS:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06618-01-1
A. 4628                             2

  A. THE CANDIDATE'S QUALIFIED OUTSTANDING LOANS ARE REPAID;
  B. THE CANDIDATE LEAVES THE TEACHING PROFESSION;
  C. THE CANDIDATE NO LONGER RESIDES IN NEW YORK STATE;
  D. THE CANDIDATE DEFAULTS ON ANY HIGHER EDUCATION GUARANTEED LOAN.
  3.  AMOUNT.  UPON  CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY BY THE COMMISSIONER TO
THE PRESIDENT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION,  THE  PRESI-
DENT  SHALL MAKE ANNUAL PAYMENTS TO THE CANDIDATE, OR AT THE PRESIDENT'S
DISCRETION DIRECTLY TO THE LENDER ON BEHALF  OF  THE  CANDIDATE,  IN  AN
AMOUNT  EQUAL  TO  THE LESSER OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR ONE-HALF OF THE
TOTAL PRINCIPAL OF FEDERAL AND NEW YORK STATE GUARANTEED  STUDENT  LOANS
DIVIDED BY THE PERIOD OF REPAYMENT, AS PRESCRIBED BY THE PRESIDENT.
  S  3. The regents of the state university may adopt any rules or regu-
lations necessary for the implementation of this act.
  S 4.  This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.