Bill > A10031

This bill establishes a Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship Program and a Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship Fund to reward dedicated volunteer firefighters. To be eligible, an applicant must be an active volunteer firefighter who has attended at least twenty-five percent of emergency calls each year for eight consecutive years, and they must agree to reside and work only in New York State for the same duration. The program will provide student loan awards to eligible recipients, covering interest and principal on loans taken out for higher education or vocational training within New York State. The award amount can be up to four times the current tuition rate at a State University of New York (SUNY) college, and the program will pay the interest on the recipient's student loans for eight years, with the remaining principal and interest paid upon completion of the program's requirements. A dedicated scholarship fund will be created, and the bill includes an initial appropriation of $1,000,000 to fund the program. The program aims to incentivize continued service and commitment from volunteer firefighters by offering significant financial assistance for their educational pursuits.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10031