103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3847

 

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Cyril Nichols

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 947/65.120 new

    Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Commission shall establish the Public School Counselor, Social Worker, or Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program. Provides that the Program shall provide school counselors, social workers, or other school mental health professionals full educational loan forgiveness to qualified applicants. Sets forth requirements for qualified applicants, application procedures, and rulemaking.


LRB103 29997 RJT 56417 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3847LRB103 29997 RJT 56417 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
5amended by adding Section 65.120 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 947/65.120 new)
7    Sec. 65.120. Public School Counselor, Social Worker, or
8Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program.
9    (a) As used in this Section, "school" means a school
10operated under the School Code.
11    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall
12establish the Public School Counselor, Social Worker, or
13Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program. The Program
14shall provide school counselors, social workers, or other
15school mental health professionals who work in public schools
16in the State for 5 years full educational loan forgiveness to
17qualified applicants.
18    (c) A person is a qualified applicant under this Section
19if he or she meets all of the following qualifications:
20        (1) the person is a United States citizen or eligible
21    noncitizen;
22        (2) the person is a resident of this State;
23        (3) the person has attended a State-based institution

 

 

HB3847- 2 -LRB103 29997 RJT 56417 b

1    of higher learning; and
2        (4) the person has worked in a State public school for
3    5 years as a school counselor, social worker, or other
4    mental health professional.
5    (d) All applications for loan forgiveness under this
6Section shall be made to the Commission. The form of
7application and the information required to be set forth in
8the application shall be determined by the Commission, and the
9Commission shall require applicants to submit with their
10applications such supporting documents as the Commission deems
11necessary.
12    (e) The Commission shall adopt any rules necessary to
13implement this Section.