A 376: Provides loan forgiveness to credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors (CASACs) who reside in the state and work in a facility licensed by the state.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 376 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. STIRPE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing loan forgiveness to credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 679-k 2 to read as follows: 3 § 679-k. Credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor loan 4 forgiveness program. 1. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan 5 forgiveness awards to credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse coun- 6 selors for the purpose of increasing the number of individuals serving 7 in the service area of substance abuse counseling. 8 2. Certification. Credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counse- 9 lor loan forgiveness awards shall be awarded each year. Such awards 10 shall be allocated as provided in this section to eligible credentialed 11 alcoholism and substance abuse counselors, hereinafter referred to as 12 CASACs, as certified to the commissioner by the president. 13 3. Definition. For the purposes of this section, a CASAC shall mean an 14 alcoholism and substance abuse counselor credentialed in accordance with 15 the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 14 Section 853.5. 16 4. Eligibility. A CASAC shall be eligible for an award under this 17 section provided that: (i) such person has been a resident of the state 18 of New York for a minimum of one year and (ii) such person is employed 19 as a CASAC in a facility licensed by the state of New York. 20 5. Duration. Each award shall entitle the recipient to an annual award 21 and a recipient shall be eligible for no more than three years. 22 6. Amount. The corporation shall grant such awards based on availabil- 23 ity of funds in an amount not to exceed the total cost of the student 24 loan debt. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01488-01-5 
 A. 376 2 1 7. Rules and regulations. The corporation is authorized to promulgate 2 rules and regulations, and may promulgate emergency regulations neces- 3 sary for the implementation of the provisions of this section. 4 § 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2027.