Bill Text: NH SB456 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relative to the state loan repayment program for qualified nursing professionals, and making an appropriation therefor.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 10-3)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-25 - Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate [SB456 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2024-SB456-Amended.html
SB 456-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/07/2024 0826s
2024 SESSION
24-3007
05/10
SENATE BILL 456-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. L. Walsh, Rock. 15
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services, state office of rural health, for the state loan repayment program to qualified nursing professionals, and directs the department of health and human services to provide a report to the legislature on a budget proposal for a student loan forgiveness program that would cover nurses who do not qualify for the state loan repayment program.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/07/2024 0826s 24-3007
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Appropriation. For the biennium ending June 30, 2025, the sum of $300,000 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services, state office of rural health, established under RSA 126-A:5, XVIII, for deposit into the state loan repayment program, established pursuant to RSA 6:12, I(b)(330). These dedicated, non-lapsing funds shall be limited to qualified nursing professionals licensed under RSA 326-B, the nurse practice act. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
2 Reporting. The department of health and human services shall provide a report to the president of the senate the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairpersons of the senate and house committees with jurisdiction over health and human services, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library. This report shall contain a budget proposal for a student loan forgiveness program that would cover nurses who do not qualify for the state loan repayment program, and shall be submitted on or before November 1, 2024.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
24-3007
Revised 1/10/24
SB 456-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to establishing a nurse retention school loan debt relief program.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | ||
Funding Source(s) | General funds; gifts, grants, donations | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $1 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] See Below • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a Nurse Retention School Loan Debt Relief Program as a new program separate from the existing State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. The program would provide financial incentives to nurses, through student repayment of assistance upon completion of a term of employment as a nurse in the State of New Hampshire. The program would be a private/public partnership operated in conjunction with private employers. In addition, the bill establishes a dedicated, non-lapsing fund known as the “Nurse Retention School Loan Debt Relief Fund.” In addition to any state funds appropriated, the Department would be able to accept public sector and private sector grants, gifts or donations of any kind for the purposes of funding the bill's provisions.
The bill stipulates the following requirements for individuals applying to the proposed program:
- Applicants must have completed nursing school in New Hampshire and be licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
- Applicants shall be contracted to work in a hospital in NH for a term of 4 years.
- Nurses awarded a contract will receive a one -time, tax free disbursement towards their student loan debt to equal to 20 percent of their student loan balance.
The Department notes that over the course of a four-year bachelor’s in science degree program at the University of New Hampshire, tuition, fees, room and board would total $130,016 per student. Twenty percent of that figure (the amount of loan repayment authorized by the bill) totals $26,003 per person. Based on uptake in the existing SLRP and National Health Service Corps (172 current participants), as well as the number of RNs and LPNs in the state (roughly four times as many as the number of physicians), the Department estimates that the new program may serve approximately 688 individuals per year. At $26,003 per person, this results in an annual cost of $17,890,064 per year. In addition, the Department assumes the positions below will be needed to administer the new program.
Administrator I, LG27, Step 5: $74,276; Benefits: $36,985; Equipment: $3,000
Compliance Officer II, LG21, Step 5: $57,116; Benefits: $33,296; Equipment: $3,000
Administrative Assistant I, LG16, Step 5: $46,527; Benefits: $31,019; Equipment: $3,000
Combined costs (program plus position-related costs) would therefore total approximately $18.2 million per year if all eligible applicants received funding.
The bill includes an appropriation of $1 for the FY24/25 biennium.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services
