The spouses and children of people killed or seriously disabled in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks could receive free tuition to New York's public colleges, if a new legislative plan proposed by New York Gov. George Pataki is passed.
Pataki announced last week he will submit the plan to the New York State legislature when it resumes in a few weeks.
The proposal, called the "World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship legislation," would guarantee that children and spouses of any of the victims of the World Trade Center, Pentagon, or the jetliner crash in Pennsylvania would receive a free education at any New York public college. This would include free tuition, room and board, student fees, books, supplies and transportation and would last for all four years of college.
If a family member of a victim decided not to attend a New York public college, the state would provide the equivalent amount of aid to attend a private New York university. Currently, the new scholarship would be valued at more than $47,500 for four years of study.
The plan, which applies to in-state and out-of-state students, would take effect immediately after passage.
"These families should not have to worry about how they are going to pay for college, and with this measure, they will never have to," Pataki said in a statement released Sept 18.
The bill will go through the New York Assembly and the New York Senate when it resumes in a few weeks, said Kelly MacMillian, chief of staff for New York Assemblyman Richard Brodsky.
This is one way we are showing "we are there for the victim, not just in the short-term, but in the long-term too," MacMillan said.
She added that the proposal would be a good way "to make sure nobody falls through the cracks."
The U.S. Department of Education announced Sept. 19 that it would give $500,000 to Virginia to ease loans for students affected by the attacks. But the state has no plans to provide scholarships and tuition assistance.
"The governor is still hearing from families and people involved in the tragedy and is assessing what the needs are," said Chris Fruend, spokesperson for Gov. James S. Gilmore III. It "may be something [the governor and the General Assembly] would support, but it wouldn't happen when [Gilmore] was in office."
The Virginia's legislature does not meet year-round as New York does, so would not be able to pase a plan for another several weeks.
Under Virginia law, however, children and spouses of people killed in the line of duty while serving in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, law enforcement or firefighting service can receive free undergraduate tuition and fees at public Virginia colleges, said Fran Bradford, Virginia Council of Higher Education spokeswoman.
She said this may apply to Virginia residents who have parents or spouses killed in the Pentagon attack.
"I'm impressed New York is making such an effort," she said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we see more such things in Virginia or nationally"
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