Bill > S05623

This bill expands the eligibility period for indigent legal service attorneys to receive certain loan forgiveness. Specifically, it increases the "eligible period" from 6 years to 7 years after completion of the second year and before the commencement of the tenth year of employment as an eligible attorney. The bill also clarifies that all periods of time during which an admitted attorney was employed as an eligible attorney, as well as all periods of time during which a law school graduate awaiting admission to the New York state bar was employed by a prosecuting or criminal defense agency, shall be combined for purposes of the loan forgiveness program. The bill takes effect immediately and ensures that it does not diminish the current award or status of eligible attorneys currently participating in the program.