Assemblyman Tom Alfano applauded the signing into law legislation he strongly supported and advocated establishing the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship Program. The program will provide college scholarships to family members and dependents of those killed or seriously disabled in the September 11 terrorist attacks, and to survivors who were seriously disabled. The bill also expands the existing memorial scholarships for children and spouses of deceased firefighters and peace officers to include emergency medical technicians who have died in the line of duty.

The scholarships will be sufficient to cover the full cost of attending a public college within New York and are currently valued at nearly $12,000 per year. "This new law will help families recover for the tragic losses and heartbreak from this attack on our country," said Alfano adding "We can never replace their loved ones, but we can help provide some hope and healing from this terrible tragedy."

Shortly after the attacks on September 11, Alfano strongly supported and advocated Governor Pataki's issuing of an executive order directing the State University of New York and City University to immediately begin providing this benefit to deserving families.

"The impact to our community was significant," said Alfano noting "We have a duty as a community of families to help one another get through this trying time and on the evening of the anniversary of September 11, I'm proud that we are taking such a positive step forward."

The new law affirms the executive order and expands the scholarship program. Under the program, immediate family members or financial dependents of those killed or seriously and permanently disabled and survivors in the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 903 in Pennsylvania will be eligible for a free education at the State University of New York and City University. It also expands the program to provide an equivalent amount of aid to attend a private college in New York State.

Doris Griffin, fire commissioner of the Franklin Square Munson Fire Department noted "This is a wonderful program that will help our community heal and help the families touched by this tragedy."

The program will be open to any immediate family member or financial dependent of any victim and is available to both residents and non-residents of New York State. In addition, eligible New York State residents who were attending college outside the state on September 11, 2001, will be able to receive an award otherwise available for attending a college within the state.

The plan will cover the cost of items such as tuition, room and board, fees, books, supplies and transportation. The benefit would be available for four years of full-time undergraduate study (or for five years for certain five-year baccalaureate programs.