Bill > S05996

This bill amends multiple sections of the New York State Education Law to explicitly include individuals enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program as eligible to apply for professional licenses, alongside U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The DACA program, established in 2012, provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization for individuals who were brought to the United States as children. The bill makes changes to licensing requirements for various professions, including physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and other healthcare professionals, by adding DACA enrollees as a category of individuals who can meet citizenship or immigration status requirements for professional licensing. Specifically, the bill allows DACA recipients to apply for professional licenses if they meet all other requirements prescribed for their particular profession, effectively removing a potential legal barrier that might have previously prevented them from obtaining professional credentials. The bill will take effect 60 days after becoming law, and state agencies are authorized to prepare necessary regulations in advance of the effective date.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5996