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Read. Follow. Verify.New York establishes paid field practicum stipends for master of social work students
Last action · June 1, 2026: PRINT NUMBER 9379BSponsors: Jo Anne Simon and 11 others
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What This Bill Would Do
New York establishes a paid pilot program starting July 1, 2026, providing eligible students with a $4,500 stipend during their first 450 hours of required field placement. In exchange, participating students must agree to work in New York State in a social work capacity for one year after graduating.
Qualifying graduate students receive financial support during mandatory unpaid field hours, while participating agencies gain temporary student support and a post-graduation work commitment from new professionals.
- Master of social work degree programs typically require students to complete hundreds of hours of supervised field practicum work, which is historically unpaid. context
- The New York State Office of Mental Health oversees mental health services and related workforce development initiatives across the state. context
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.
Master of social work students
Students enrolled in qualifying programs who complete field practicums in New York State may receive monthly stipends of up to $4,500 and become subject to a one-year post-graduation work commitment.
Colleges and universities
Institutions offering registered master of social work programs must post pilot program informational materials on their websites and provide annual data to the Office of Mental Health.
Field practicum settings
Field placement sites must participate in annual data collection regarding client service demands and workforce retention.
Office of Mental Health
The office must establish, administer, and fund the pilot program, collect and publish program data, and submit an evaluation report by December 1, 2030.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive the master of social work field practicum stipend?
What is the total amount and hourly rate of the stipend?
Are there any post-graduation requirements for students who accept the 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
7 actions- Jun 1, 2026HousePRINT NUMBER 9379B
- Jun 1, 2026HouseCommitteeAMEND AND RECOMMIT TO WAYS AND MEANS
- Mar 10, 2026HouseCommitteeREPORTED REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
- Mar 5, 2026HousePRINT NUMBER 9379A
- Mar 5, 2026HouseCommitteeAMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO MENTAL HEALTH
- Jan 7, 2026HouseCommitteeREFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
Show 1 earlier action
- Dec 19, 2025HouseCommitteeREFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
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
Show 7 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Direct Financial Support for Unpaid Field Placements
The bill links state-funded stipends directly to mandatory practical hours while imposing a mandatory in-state work requirement to address regional workforce retention.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.nysenate.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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