SB2439 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 27542 RJT 53917 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2439

Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Mattie Hunter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/65.120 new
110 ILCS 947/65.125 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates the Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall create and administer a Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program for applicants whose role is to primarily serve recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals or for an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals after receiving loan repayment assistance. Sets forth conditions to apply to the program, loan repayment requirements, application requirements, repayment amounts, and other conditions. Creates the Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Grant Program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall create and administer a Social Worker Grant Program for applicants whose role is to primarily serve recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals or for an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals after receiving loan repayment assistance. Sets forth conditions to apply to the program, grant requirements, application requirements, repayment amounts, and other conditions. Effective January 1, 2024.

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 Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Sections 65.120 and 65.125 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.120 new)

Sec. 65.120. Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Accredited school" means a college or university in which a degree in social work, or an equivalent credential for a health program is earned and for which the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its affiliates has determined that the school meets specific standards for its programs, faculty, and curriculum.

"Applicant" means a certified community health worker, licensed social worker, licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, or a licensed marriage and family therapist who applies for loan repayment assistance under this Section.

"Commercial loan" means a loan made by a bank, credit union, savings and loan association, insurance company, school, or other financial institution.

"Default" means failure to meet a legal obligation or condition of a loan.

"Health professional shortage area" or "HPSA" means a designation from the federal Department of Health and Human Services that indicates the shortage of primary medical care or dental or mental health providers. The designation may be geographic, such as a county or service area; demographic, such as low-income population; or institutional, such as a comprehensive health center, federally qualified health center, or other public facility.

"Dual eligible beneficiary" means an individual who qualifies for both medical assistance and Medicare.

"Government loan" means a loan made by a federal, State, county, or city agency authorized to make the loan.

"Lender" means the commercial or government entity that makes a qualifying loan.

"Loan repayment award" or "award" means the amount of funding awarded to a recipient based upon his or her reasonable educational expenses, up to a maximum established by the program.

"Medical assistance" refers to benefits provided under the medical assistance program under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

"Qualifying loan" means a government loan or commercial loan used for tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses related to undergraduate or graduate education that was obtained by the recipient prior to his or her application for loan repayment and that is contemporaneous with the education received.

"Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program" or "Loan Repayment Program" means the Social Worker Loan and Qualified Mental Health Professional Repayment Program created under subsection (b) of this Section.

"Recipient" means a licensed social worker, licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, or a licensed marriage and family therapist that may use loan repayment or grant funds.

(b) The Commission shall create and administer a Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program. An applicant whose role is to primarily serve recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals or who is employed by an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals may apply to the Commission for loan repayment assistance under the Loan Repayment Program. In order to be eligible for loan repayment under this Section, the applicant shall comply with the following:

(1) Be a current resident of the State.

(2) Be serving primarily recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals, or be employed by an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals; or have an offer of employment primarily serving recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals or at an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals and begin employment within 90 calendar days from submission of an application.

(3) Have an undergraduate or graduate level social work degree from an accredited school and have a current, valid, and unencumbered license to practice the profession in the State.

(4) Be a borrower with an outstanding balance on an educational loan.

(5) Have not defaulted on an educational loan.

(6) Submit an application to participate in the Loan Repayment Program.

(7) Sign a written agreement attesting to accepting repayment of social work educational loans and to serve for a 5-year period of obligated service in a role primarily serving recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals or for an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals after receiving loan repayment assistance. The written agreement shall outline details of the loan repayment service obligations, including, but not limited to, the time frame required for the recipient to fulfill the service obligation.

(c) All applications must be submitted to the Commission in a form and manner prescribed by the Commission.

(d) The amount of the loan repayment shall not exceed $6,500 for each qualified applicant in the Loan Repayment Program.

(e) Loan repayment funds under the Loan Repayment Program shall be used according to the following:

(1) To repay qualifying educational loans of social workers in Illinois whose role is to primarily serve recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals or who are employed by an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals for a 5-year period after receiving loan repayment assistance.

(2) For educational loans that were obtained prior to the date the recipient submits an application for loan repayment assistance.

(3) To retire qualifying educational loans if the loans are the result of consolidated or refinanced debt. To qualify, the consolidated or refinanced loans shall:

(A) be a government loan or a loan from a commercial lender; and

(B) include only qualifying educational loans of the social worker.

(f) An individual who meets the eligibility requirements set forth in this Section may apply for loan repayment authorized by this Section. In order to promote greater diversity and community representation in healthcare, the Commission shall set forward criteria that prioritizes applicants, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Those who identify as a person from a race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status that is underrepresented in the healthcare sector.

(2) Persons working in a health professional shortage area, including, but not limited to, rural healthcare settings.

(g) An individual who is awarded a loan repayment under this Section shall not receive a concurrent loan repayment through any other State or federal loan repayment program. Nothing in this Section prevents an individual from receiving consecutive loan repayment awards under this Section or any other State or federal program.

(110 ILCS 947/65.125 new)

Sec. 65.125. Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Grant Program.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Accredited school" means a college or university in which a degree in social work, or an equivalent credential for a health program is earned and for which the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its affiliates has determined that the school meets specific standards for its programs, faculty, and curriculum.

"Applicant" means a licensed social worker, licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, or a licensed marriage and family therapist who applies for grant under this Section.

"Commercial loan" means a loan made by a bank, credit union, savings and loan association, insurance company, school, or other financial institution.

"Default" means failure to meet a legal obligation or condition of a loan.

"Dual eligible beneficiary" means an individual who qualifies for both medical assistance and Medicare.

"Health professional shortage area" or "HPSA" means a designation from the federal Department of Health and Human Services that indicates the shortage of primary medical care or dental or mental health providers. The designation may be geographic, such as a county or service area; demographic, such as low-income population; or institutional, such as a comprehensive health center, federally qualified health center, or other public facility.

"Government loan" means a loan made by a federal, State, county, or city agency authorized to make the loan.

"Lender" means the commercial or government entity that makes a qualifying loan.

"Loan repayment award" or "award" means the amount of funding awarded to a recipient based upon his or her reasonable educational expenses, up to a maximum established by the program.

"Medical assistance" refers to benefits provided under the medical assistance program under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

"Qualifying loan" means a government loan or commercial loan used for tuition and reasonable educational and living expenses related to undergraduate or graduate education that was obtained by the recipient prior to his or her application for loan repayment and that is contemporaneous with the education received.

"Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Grant Program" or "Grant Program" means the Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Grant Program created under this Section.

"Recipient" means a licensed social worker, licensed clinical social worker, a licensed clinical professional counselor, a licensed practitioner of the healing arts, or a licensed marriage and family therapist that may use loan repayment or grant funds.

(b) The Commission shall create and administer a Social Worker and Qualified Mental Health Professional Grant Program. An applicant who agrees to serve in a role primarily serving recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals or at an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals for the required timeframe may apply to the Commission for assistance with educational expenses under the Grant Program. In order to be eligible for a grant under this Section, the applicant shall comply with the following:

(1) Be a current resident of the State.

(2) Agree to serve in a role primarily serving recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals or at an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals for the required time frame.

(3) Be working toward completion of clinical professional experience requirements for social work licensure.

(4) Be working toward social work licensure as a part of a graduate level program at an accredited school.

(5) Submit an application to participate in the Grant Program.

(6) Sign a written agreement attesting to accepting the grant and to serve for a 5-year period of obligated service in a role primarily serving individuals on medical assistance or uninsured individuals or for an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals after completion of all applicable educational requirements. The written agreement shall outline details of the grant obligations, including, but not limited to, the time frame required for the recipient to fulfill the service obligation.

(c) The Commission shall receive and consider applications for assistance with educational expenses under this Section each year. All applications must be submitted to the Commission in a form and manner prescribed by the Commission.

(d) The grant amount shall not exceed $6,500 for each qualified applicant in the Grant Program. The Commission shall award a one-time grant to each qualified applicant.

(e) Funds under the Grant Program shall be used according to the following:

(1) To pay for costs associated with social work licensure or completion of a graduate level social work degree at an accredited school if the applicant agrees to serve in a role primarily serving recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals or at an organization that predominately serves recipients of medical assistance or uninsured individuals for a 5-year period after completion of applicable educational requirements.

(f) An individual who meets the eligibility requirements set forth in this Section may apply for a grant authorized by this Section. In order to promote greater diversity and community representation in healthcare, the Commission shall set forward criteria that prioritizes applicants, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Those who identify as a person from a race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status that is underrepresented in the healthcare sector.

(2) Persons working in a Health Professional Shortage Area, including, but not limited to, rural healthcare settings.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2024.