NY A06036

Creates a volunteer firefighter scholarship program administered by the Office of Higher Education, offering awards to active volunteer firefighters who attend at least 25% of emergency calls annually.

Awards up to four times the current SUNY tuition rate per recipient, with the office paying interest on student loans for eight years and remaining principal and interest upon program completion, up to the four-times tuition cap.

Recipients must reside exclusively in New York State, remain employed only in New York, and maintain active volunteer firefighter status with 25% emergency call attendance for eight years; annual verification required via chief or company director affidavit.

If recipients fail to meet requirements, awarded funds convert to student loans per office-determined repayment schedule; commissioner may waive requirements for extreme circumstances including disability, illness, or family emergency.

Establishes the volunteer firefighter scholarship fund in joint custody of the state comptroller and commissioner of taxation and finance, with an initial appropriation of $1,000,000 from the general fund; fund shall receive contributions, donations, and appropriated moneys.