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A 3574

Creates a volunteer firefighter scholarship program and a volunteer firefighter scholarship fund; appropriation

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Paul Bologna and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship Program and Fund with state funding to help volunteer firefighters pursue higher education; enacting clause struck, not enacted.

ENACTING CLAUSE STRICKEN
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 3574

Summary of New York/A generic Bill A 3574 (Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship Program)

Note: This summary reflects the information provided. The bill’s enacting clause was struck, meaning it did not become law in its current form.

Basic Information

  • Bill Number: A 3574
  • Title: Creates a volunteer firefighter scholarship program and a volunteer firefighter scholarship fund; appropriation
  • Status: ENACTING CLAUSE STRICKEN (as of 2025-09-08)
  • Introduced: January 28, 2025
  • Classification: Bill
  • Sponsor(s):
    • Primary: Billy Jones
    • Co-sponsor: Paula Bologna
  • Related Bills:
    • A 6036 (prior-session)
    • S 3531 (companion) — listed twice in the materials

What the bill would do (purpose and key provisions)

  • Establish a Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship Program: The core purpose is to create a program to provide scholarships to individuals who serve as volunteer firefighters.
  • Create a Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship Fund: A dedicated fund would be established to support the scholarship program; funds would presumably be used to award scholarships to eligible volunteers.
  • Appropriation: The bill contemplates a state appropriation to support the scholarship program and fund, enabling financial assistance for recipients.
  • Administrative Oversight (implied): While not explicitly detailed in the provided materials, such programs are typically administered by the state higher education department or a designated state agency. The bill was referred to Higher Education, indicating administration or oversight would fall under that department’s purview.

Note: The provided materials do not include specific eligibility criteria, application procedures, scholarship amounts, duration of awards, repayment requirements, or priority categories. These details would be defined in the bill text or accompanying fiscal notes.

Who would be affected

  • Volunteer Firefighters and Prospective Students: Individuals who volunteer as firefighters and seek financial support to pursue higher education or related training.
  • Higher Education Institutions: Potential recipients would be students at colleges/universities or enrolled in higher education programs; institutions could participate in administering or recognizing the scholarships.
  • State Budget and Administration: The appropriation would affect state funding allocations; the program would require administrative infrastructure for selection, disbursement, and reporting.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Introduced and Referred: January 28, 2025 — referred to the Higher Education committee.
  • Legislative Action: September 8, 2025 — Enacting Clause Stricken (appears twice in the record). The striking of the enacting clause typically prevents the bill from becoming law in its current form.
  • Current Status: With the enacting clause struck, the bill is not enacted. It may be reintroduced in a future session, amended, or merged with related legislation (e.g., companion/S-3531 or prior-session A-6036).

Potential impact if enacted (illustrative)

  • Strengthen recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters by providing financial support for education.
  • Encourage volunteers to pursue higher education or professional development related to firefighting, emergency services, or public safety.
  • Create a structured funding stream (the scholarship fund) managed by the appropriate state department, with accountability and reporting requirements.

Additional considerations

  • To fully assess impact, the bill’s text would need review for:
    • Eligibility, merit criteria, and priority factors (e.g., service hours, community impact)
    • Award amounts, duration, and renewal provisions
    • Application process and required documentation
    • Funding sources, cap on total appropriations, and sunset/renewal provisions
    • Administrative structure and reporting requirements

If you’d like, I can prepare a side-by-side comparison with the companion bill S 3531 or the prior-session A 6036, once the full texts are available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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