Illinois House Bill 4940

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: Introduced on February 7 2024 - 25% progression
Action: 2024-04-05 - Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 24, 2024
Pending: House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [HTML]

Creates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Optometrists Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for optometrists who practice in this State to increase the total number of optometrists in this State. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, the Department shall, each year, consider applications for assistance under the program; sets forth other provisions concerning applications for assistance. Provides that an applicant is eligible for assistance if, among other qualifications, the applicant is practicing full time in this State as an optometrist, is currently repaying educational loans, and agrees to continue full time practice in this State for at least 3 years. Provides that for each year that a qualified applicant practices full time in this State as an optometrist, the Department shall award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay that year; specifies other grant requirements. Sets forth provisions concerning administration, rulemaking, appropriations, and a penalty for the failure to fulfill the work obligation. Effective January 1, 2025.

OPTOMETRIST LOAN REPAYMENT ACT

Rep. Katie Stuart [D]

Date	Chamber	Action
2024-04-05	House	Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 24, 2024
2024-03-05	House	Assigned to Appropriations-Higher Education Committee
2024-02-07	House	Referred to Rules Committee
2024-02-07	House	First Reading
2024-02-07	House	Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Katie Stuart

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=4940&GAID=17&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=112&GA=103
Text	https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/103/HB/10300HB4940.htm