A 7908: Creates a service learning program for students serving as active volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance workers; mandates certain features of such program.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7908 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY April 11, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. DeSTEFANO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to certain service learn- ing, internship, or independent study programs The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new 2 subdivision 22 to read as follows: 3 22. The state university trustees shall adopt regulations to establish 4 a service learning, internship, or independent study program for 5 students that serve as active volunteer firefighters and/or active 6 volunteer ambulance workers. Each state-operated institution and commu- 7 nity college may, as determined by its president, offer such a service 8 learning, internship, or independent study program to eligible students 9 in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the state university 10 trustees. Such program shall consist of (a) a community service compo- 11 nent that may be completed through no less than twenty hours of verifi- 12 able volunteer firefighting activities, volunteer ambulance or emergency 13 response activities, or other activities related to volunteer fire or 14 ambulance service as determined by the state university trustees, and 15 (b) an academic component related to such volunteer activity that may be 16 completed through a written report or journal, or other written assign- 17 ment as determined by the state university trustees. Such program shall 18 be open to any student enrolled in an associate or baccalaureate 19 degree-producing program on a full-time or part-time basis that is an 20 active volunteer firefighter as defined in subdivision one of section 21 two hundred fifteen of the general municipal law or an active volunteer 22 ambulance worker as defined in subdivision fourteen of section two 23 hundred nineteen-k of the general municipal law. No more than six 24 academic credits shall be awarded to a student for successful completion 25 of such service learning, internship or independent study program. In EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00550-01-5 
 A. 7908 2 1 developing the service learning, internship or independent study program 2 described in this subdivision, the state university trustees may, in its 3 discretion, consult with the office of fire prevention and control 4 and/or any statewide organization that represents the interests of the 5 volunteer fire service or the volunteer ambulance service. 6 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 7 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or 8 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of 9 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed 10 on or before such effective date.