N.Y. Education Law § 679-a: New York state licensed social worker loan forgiveness program

§ 679-a. New York state licensed social worker loan forgiveness

program. 1. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan forgiveness

awards for the purpose of increasing the number of social workers

serving in critical human service areas. For the purposes of this

section, the term "critical human service area" shall mean an area in

New York state designated by the corporation, in consultation with a

committee comprised of one representative each from the corporation, the

department, the department of health, the department of mental hygiene,

and the office of children and family services, provided that such areas

shall include, but not be limited to, areas with a shortage of social

workers in home care, health, mental health, substance abuse, aging,

HIV/AIDS and child welfare concerns, or communities with multi-lingual

needs.

2. Eligibility. To be eligible for an award pursuant to this

subdivision, applicants shall (a) be licensed as a social worker

pursuant to article one hundred fifty-four of this chapter; (b) comply

with subdivisions three and five of section six hundred sixty-one of

this part; and (c) have an outstanding student loan debt.

3. Priority. Such awards shall be made annually to applicants in the

following priority:

(a) First priority shall be given to applicants who have received

payment of an award pursuant to this section in a prior year and who, in

the year prior to application, have provided social work services in (i)

a critical human service area, or (ii) a previously designated critical

human service area;

(b) Second priority shall be given to applicants who have not received

payment of an award pursuant to this section in a prior year and who

have provided social work services in a critical human service area in

the year prior to such application; and

(c) Third priority shall be given to applicants who are economically

disadvantaged as defined by the corporation.

4. Awards. The corporation shall grant awards in the value of six

thousand five hundred dollars to individuals who have provided full-time

social work services in a critical human service area in the year prior

to such application, provided that no recipient shall receive an award

that exceeds the total remaining balance of the student loan debt and

that no recipient shall receive cumulative awards, pursuant to this

section, in excess of twenty-six thousand dollars. Awards shall be

within the amounts appropriated for such purpose and based on

availability of funds.

5. Rules and regulations. The corporation is authorized to promulgate

rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of the provisions

of this section. In the event that there are more applicants who have

the same priority, as provided in subdivision three of this section,

than there are remaining awards, the corporation shall provide in

regulation the method of distributing the remaining number of such

awards, which may include a lottery or other form of random selection.