Bill Text: IL SB2439 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: 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 predominantly 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 predominantly 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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-10 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB2439 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2439-Introduced.html

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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.
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A BILL FOR
SB2439 LRB103 27542 RJT 53917 b
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,

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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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

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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

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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.