NY S05286

Permits social services districts to allow public assistance recipients to pursue post-secondary education, including four-year college programs, to satisfy work activity requirements when the district has met applicable federal or state participation rates for the previous year or projects to meet them for the current year.

Requires districts to count each hour of classroom participation as work activity and also count time reasonably necessary for study and class preparation as work activity, using state education department regulations for supplementary hours per credit hour.

Prohibits districts from assigning additional activities to participants enrolled at least half-time in a post-secondary program who maintain at least a cumulative C average, unless undue hardship exists due to death of a relative, personal illness or injury, or other extenuating circumstances.

Extends the maximum duration of post-secondary education from four years to include four-year college programs, with the requirement that enrollment beyond twelve months must be combined with at least twenty hours of weekly paid employment or work activities when available.

Increases the allowable portion of proprietary vocational school programs devoted to high school equivalency or English proficiency preparation from 25 percent to 50 percent of the approved program duration.