2023 New York Laws › EDN - Education › Title 1 - General Provisions › Article 14 - New York State Higher Education Services Corporation › Part 2 - Student Financial Aid › Sub Part 4 - Other Awards › 679-I - New York State Child Welfare Worker Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program.

§  679-i.  New  York  state  child  welfare  worker  loan  forgiveness
  incentive program. 1. Purpose. the president shall  grant  student  loan
  forgiveness  awards for the purpose of attracting workers to be employed
  in voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agencies  in  New  York  state
  licensed  by  the  office  of  children  and  family services as a child
  welfare worker. Such awards shall be made on  a  competitive  basis,  in
  accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the corporation for
  such purposes, to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.
2.  Eligibility. To be eligible for an award pursuant to this section,
  applicants shall:
a. have graduated and obtained an  undergraduate  or  graduate  degree
  from a college or university located in New York state;
b. have outstanding student loan debt from obtaining such degree;
c. agree to work in a voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agency in
  New York state licensed by the office of children and family services as
  a  child  welfare  worker,  on a full time basis for a period of no less
  than five years;
d. apply for this program within two years of college graduation; and
e. comply with subdivisions three and  five  of  section  six  hundred
  sixty-one of this part.
3.  Awards.  Awards  shall  be  granted to qualified applicants in the
  amount of up to ten thousand dollars per year,  per  applicant,  not  to
  exceed  a  duration  of five years and not to exceed the total amount of
  such applicant's student loan debt. The  corporation  shall  grant  such
  awards  within  amounts  appropriated for such purposes and based on the
  availability of funds. No one applicant shall receive more than a  total
  of fifty thousand dollars upon the end of a five-year period.
4.  Priority.  First  priority  shall  be given to applicants who have
  received payment of an award pursuant to this section in  a  prior  year
  and  remain  eligible.  Second priority shall be given to applicants who
  are completing the second, third, fourth  or  fifth  year  of  full-time
  employment  at  a  voluntary  not-for-profit child welfare agency in New
  York state licensed by the office of children and family services. Third
  priority shall be given to an applicant  who  can  demonstrate  economic
  need  but  did  not  receive  an  award  during  the  first year of this
  program's operation.  If  larger  numbers  of  applicants  are  eligible
  pursuant  to  this subdivision than funds available, applicants shall be
  chosen pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the corporation;
  provided, however, that each applicant chosen shall receive an award  of
  up  to ten thousand dollars in each year such applicant is accepted into
  the program.
5. Rules and regulations. The corporation is authorized to  promulgate
  rules   and  regulations,  and  may  promulgate  emergency  regulations,
  necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this section.