HB4452 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17585 BAB 31013 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4452

Introduced 1/20/2026, by Rep. Nicolle Grasse

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act. By January 1, 2027, requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to establish the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, which shall be administered by the Commission. Provides that the Program shall provide loan repayment assistance to eligible hospice and palliative care professionals practicing in a hospice program that provides services in the State. Provides that, each year, the Commission shall receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning the awarding of grants by the Commission; eligibility for the Program; hospice program work requirements; and rulemaking. Provides that the Act is repealed 10 years after the effective date of the Act. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act.

Section 5. Purpose; goal. The purpose of this Act is to help State-licensed hospice programs recruit and retain qualified professionals and address this State's community-based hospice and palliative care workforce shortage. The goal of this Act is to reduce disparities in access to critical health services for people who have serious illnesses or who are nearing the end of life.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

"Hospice and palliative care professional" means a person who is employed by a hospice program and is a physician, State-licensed advanced practice registered nurse, State-licensed registered nurse, State-licensed social worker, State-licensed clinical social worker, or State-licensed practical nurse.

"Hospice program" means a public agency or private organization or a subdivision of either that is licensed by this State as a comprehensive hospice program, as defined in the Hospice Program Licensing Act, and is Medicare-certified.

"Physician" means a person licensed by this State to practice medicine in all its branches and includes any physician holding a temporary license, as provided in the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

"Program" means the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program established under this Act.

Section 15. Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program. By January 1, 2027, the Commission shall establish the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, which shall be administered by the Commission. Subject to appropriation, the Program shall provide loan repayment assistance to eligible hospice and palliative care professionals practicing in a hospice program that provides services in this State.

Section 20. Applications. Each year, the Commission shall receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under this Act. All applications shall be submitted to the Commission in a form and manner prescribed by the Commission. Applicants shall submit any supporting documents deemed necessary by the Commission at the time of application.

Section 25. Awarding of grants. Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award a grant to each qualified applicant for a maximum of 4 years. A grant awarded under the Program shall be used for payments toward the recipient's educational loans.

The Commission is encouraged to award grants from appropriated funds in the following proportions, to the extent feasible:

(1) 10% toward awards for physicians;

(2) 10% toward awards for licensed advanced practice registered nurses;

(3) 40% toward awards for licensed registered nurses;

(4) 30% toward awards for licensed social workers and licensed clinical social workers; and

(5) 10% toward awards for licensed practical nurses.

The amount of a grant award may not exceed (i) $40,000 per year for a physician, (ii) $20,000 per year for a licensed advanced practice registered nurse,(iii) $15,000 per year for a licensed social worker or licensed clinical social worker, (iv) $15,000 per year for a licensed registered nurse, and (v) $5,000 per year for a licensed practical nurse. However, if there are any appropriated funds not awarded as grants under paragraphs (1) through (5), then the Commission may award grants from those funds to any qualified applicants.

Section 30. Eligibility; work requirement.

(a) To be eligible for assistance under the Program, the Commission must find that the applicant meets all of the following qualifications:

(1) The applicant is a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen.

(2) The applicant is a resident of this State.

(3) The applicant has worked for at least 12 consecutive months as a hospice and palliative care professional in a hospice program in this State and (i) has worked at least 10 hours per week if the applicant is a physician or (ii) has worked at least 32 hours per week if the applicant is not a physician.

(4) The applicant is a borrower with an outstanding balance due on an educational loan.

(5) The applicant 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 be eligible under subsection (a).

(c) The Commission may grant preference to applicants who are employed by a hospice program operating in a rural area of this State.

(d) A recipient of a grant under the Program shall complete a separate 12-month period working in a hospice program in this State for each grant that the recipient is awarded and, during that 12-month period, shall (i) work at least 10 hours per week if the applicant is a physician or (ii) work at least 32 hours per week if the applicant is not a physician.

Section 90. Rules. The Commission shall adopt rules not inconsistent with this Act to implement and administer this Act.

Section 95. Repeal. This Act is repealed 10 years after the effective date of this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.