N.Y. Education Law § 679-i: New York state child welfare worker loan forgiveness incentive program

§ 679-i. New York state child welfare worker loan forgiveness

incentive program. 1. Purpose. the president shall grant student loan

forgiveness awards for the purpose of attracting workers to be employed

in voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agencies in New York state

licensed by the office of children and family services as a child

welfare worker. Such awards shall be made on a competitive basis, in

accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the corporation for

such purposes, to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.

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

applicants shall:

a. have graduated and obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree

from a college or university located in New York state;

b. have outstanding student loan debt from obtaining such degree;

c. agree to work in a voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agency in

New York state licensed by the office of children and family services as

a child welfare worker, on a full time basis for a period of no less

than five years;

d. apply for this program within two years of college graduation; and

e. comply with subdivisions three and five of section six hundred

sixty-one of this part.

3. Awards. Awards shall be granted to qualified applicants in the

amount of up to ten thousand dollars per year, per applicant, not to

exceed a duration of five years and not to exceed the total amount of

such applicant's student loan debt. The corporation shall grant such

awards within amounts appropriated for such purposes and based on the

availability of funds. No one applicant shall receive more than a total

of fifty thousand dollars upon the end of a five-year period.

4. Priority. First priority shall be given to applicants who have

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

and remain eligible. Second priority shall be given to applicants who

are completing the second, third, fourth or fifth year of full-time

employment at a voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agency in New

York state licensed by the office of children and family services. Third

priority shall be given to an applicant who can demonstrate economic

need but did not receive an award during the first year of this

program's operation. If larger numbers of applicants are eligible

pursuant to this subdivision than funds available, applicants shall be

chosen pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the corporation;

provided, however, that each applicant chosen shall receive an award of

up to ten thousand dollars in each year such applicant is accepted into

the program.

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

rules and regulations, and may promulgate emergency regulations,

necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this section.