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NY A01322

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/9/2025

Primary Sponsor

Jo Simon

Click for details

Origin

Assembly

2025-2026 General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Creates scholarships for essential workers who worked during COVID-19 or other novel virus outbreaks that result in a state disaster emergency declaration, as well as children of essential workers who died from contracting such viruses

  • Awards cover full tuition, mandatory fees, and non-tuition costs (room, board, books, transportation) at SUNY and CUNY institutions, capped at total cost of attendance minus other government aid

  • Recipients attending private or other approved New York institutions receive awards based on SUNY four-year college tuition and fee rates, with non-tuition costs capped at SUNY averages

  • Scholarships are payable for up to 4 years of undergraduate study, or 5 years for programs that normally require five years

  • Commissioner is directed to establish rules defining who qualifies as an essential employee; "novel virus" is defined as a virus or bacterial strain not previously identified in humans

Legislative Description

Establishes a novel virus essential workers scholarship program to award annual scholarships to essential employees who worked during the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or during the outbreak of another novel virus and children of essential employees who have died as a result of contracting COVID-19 or another novel virus.

Last Action

referred to higher education

1/7/2026

Committee Referrals

Higher Education1/9/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available