Bill > S01498

This bill proposes significant changes to the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) in New York by eliminating the distinction between dependent and independent students when determining award amounts and eligibility. The bill modifies existing education law to create a more uniform approach to calculating financial aid, removing previous complex income reduction schedules that differentiated between students based on their dependency status. Key provisions include standardizing the base amount for tuition assistance across all student categories, with awards ranging from a minimum of one thousand dollars to a maximum that can cover up to 100% of tuition (exclusive of educational fees) at certain institutions. The bill also maintains income-based reductions to the base award amount, with a sliding scale that reduces awards as a student's income increases. Additionally, the bill specifies that awards cannot exceed the total tuition minus other educational aid and sets minimum tuition thresholds for eligibility. The changes are designed to simplify the tuition assistance process and provide more consistent financial support to students pursuing higher education in New York, regardless of their dependency status. The bill will take effect 180 days after becoming law.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1498