SB0057 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 04647 RJT 49655 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB0057

Introduced 1/20/2023, by Sen. Laura Fine

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 996/25
110 ILCS 996/30

Amends the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Act. Provides that up to a $2,500 grant awarded may also be awarded to a certified alcohol and other drug counselor, and a certified recovery support specialist. Provides that an applicant may also work for at least 12 consecutive months for an organization that provides community based substance abuse disorder treatment or mental health services in an underserved or rural federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area in this State.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act is amended by changing Sections 25 and 30 as follows:

(110 ILCS 996/25)

Sec. 25. Award; maximum loan time; maximum amount. Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award a grant to each qualified applicant for a maximum of 4 years. The Commission must encourage the recipient of a grant awarded under this Act to use the grant award for payments towards the recipient's educational loans. The amount of the grant shall not exceed (i) $35,000 per year for a psychiatrist, (ii) $15,000 per year for an advanced practice registered nurse or a physician assistant, (iii) $12,000 per year for a psychologist who holds a doctoral degree, (iv) $6,500 per year for a licensed clinical social worker or a licensed clinical professional counselor, and (v) $2,500 per year for a substance use professional, a certified alcohol and other drug counselor, and a certified recovery support specialist.

(Source: P.A. 100-862, eff. 1-1-19.)

(110 ILCS 996/30)

Sec. 30. Eligibility; work requirement.

(a) To be eligible for assistance under the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, the Commission must find that the applicant satisfies all of the following:

(1) He or she is a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen.

(2) He or she is a resident of this State.

(3) He or she has worked for at least 12 consecutive months: as a behavioral health professional in a community mental health center in an underserved or rural federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area in this State.

(i) as a behavioral health professional in a community mental health center in an underserved or rural federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area in this State; or

(ii) for an organization that provides community based substance abuse disorder treatment or mental health services in an underserved or rural federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area in this State.

(4) He or she is a borrower with an outstanding balance due on an educational loan.

(5) He or she has not defaulted on an educational loan.

(b) The Commission may grant preference to a previous recipient of a grant under the Program, provided that the recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements under this Section.

(c) A recipient of a grant under the Program must complete a separate 12-month period working in a community mental health center in an underserved or rural federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area in this State for each grant that he or she is awarded.

(Source: P.A. 100-862, eff. 1-1-19.)