Bill > A03271

This bill amends the New York state district attorney and indigent legal services attorney loan forgiveness program to expand the definition of creditable time during an attorney's service period. Currently, the program allows attorneys to count towards their six-year service period only when actively employed. The bill now permits certain types of authorized absences to be considered creditable time, specifically time spent on uniformed military service, maternity or paternity leave, leave covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), or absence due to a compensable work-related injury. These periods of leave will not automatically count towards the service period but can be considered creditable at the discretion of the program's president. Periods of unpaid leave or non-pay status that do not fall under these specific categories will not count towards the service period, and the service completion date will be extended by the total time spent in non-pay status. This change provides more flexibility for attorneys participating in the loan forgiveness program by recognizing important life and career events that might temporarily interrupt their continuous employment.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3271