Bill > S00161

This bill expands loan forgiveness eligibility for attorneys working in indigent legal services by modifying several key provisions of New York's education law. The bill extends the "eligible period" for loan reimbursement from a six-year to an eight-year window, allowing attorneys to apply for loan forgiveness between their second and eleventh years of service (instead of the previous third to tenth years). The maximum annual loan reimbursement increases from $3,400 to $8,000 per qualifying year. The bill also broadens the types of qualifying employment to include non-profit indigent civil legal services corporations, in addition to existing prosecuting and criminal defense agencies. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that certain types of leave, such as vacation time or Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, will not be considered an interruption in qualifying employment. Attorneys can now receive student loan expense grants for up to eight years of qualified service, an increase from the previous six-year limit. The changes are set to take effect on April 1, 2026, and are designed to ensure that current program participants will not have their existing awards or status negatively impacted.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S161