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Read. Follow. Verify.New York bill establishes social work exam voucher program for low-income residents
Last action · September 23, 2026: PRINT NUMBER 10094ASponsors: Sam Berger and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
New York lawmakers introduced the LIFT Act to create an examination voucher program that covers social work licensing exam costs for low-income residents regardless of how many times they test. Eligible applicants must be state residents with an annual income at or below 250 percent of the .
Low-income candidates pursuing credentials as s or s face repeated out-of-pocket testing fees, which this measure removes by funding exam vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis up to available appropriations.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Low-income social work applicants
Eligible individuals receive vouchers covering exam costs regardless of the number of attempts.
Key Facts
- Establishes the social work licensure examination voucher program to cover exam costs for licensed master social worker or licensed clinical social worker candidates.
- Vouchers cover the cost of the examination regardless of the number of examination attempts.
- Applicants must be state residents eligible to sit for the licensure examination.
- Applicant annual income must be at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
Show all 7 facts
- If eligible applicants exceed available funding, vouchers are awarded in the order complete applications are received.
- The department must promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the program.
- The act takes effect on the one hundred twentieth day after becoming law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the social work exam vouchers?
Does the voucher cover multiple exam attempts?
What happens if there are more applicants than available funding?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Sep 23, 2026HousePRINT NUMBER 10094A
- Sep 23, 2026HouseCommitteeAMEND AND RECOMMIT TO HIGHER EDUCATION
- Jan 30, 2026HouseCommitteeREFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.nysenate.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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