SENATE DOCKET, NO. 512        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 77

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Sal N. DiDomenico

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to a loan repayment program for human services workers.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

 

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

1/25/2023

Brian W. Murray

10th Worcester

1/27/2023

Susannah M. Whipps

2nd Franklin

1/27/2023

Michael D. Brady

Second Plymouth and Norfolk

1/27/2023

Mathew J. Muratore

1st Plymouth

1/27/2023

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

12th Hampden

1/27/2023

Robyn K. Kennedy

First Worcester

1/27/2023

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

1/31/2023

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

2/1/2023

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

2/2/2023

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

2/7/2023

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

2/7/2023

Patrick M. O'Connor

First Plymouth and Norfolk

2/8/2023

Anne M. Gobi

Worcester and Hampshire

2/8/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/21/2023

Liz Miranda

Second Suffolk

3/1/2023

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

3/2/2023

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

3/2/2023

Paul W. Mark

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire

3/14/2023

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

3/15/2023

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

3/21/2023

Jacob R. Oliveira

Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester

3/22/2023

Susan L. Moran

Plymouth and Barnstable

4/6/2023

Joan B. Lovely

Second Essex

4/18/2023

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

8/9/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 512        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 77

By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 77) of Sal N. DiDomenico, Hannah Kane, Brian W. Murray, Susannah M. Whipps and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to a loan repayment program for human services workers.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act relative to a loan repayment program for human services workers.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 16Z the following new section:-

Section 16AA. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“human service provider,” a community-based human services organization with a human services program funded by the executive office of health and human services, the executive office of elder affairs, the department of housing and community development or the department of early education and care.

“human services worker,” an employee of a human service provider who provides treatment, support or services to clients or their families.

“qualified education loan,” any indebtedness, including interest on such indebtedness, incurred to pay tuition or other direct expenses incurred in the connection with the pursuit of a certificate, undergraduate or graduate degree by an applicant. It shall not include loans made by any person related to the applicant.

(b) There shall be a student loan repayment program for human service workers to encourage individuals to enter the field and maintain employment at human service programs. The executive office of health and human services shall administer the program in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the department of higher education.

(c) To be eligible for the program, a participant must be working a minimum of 35 hours per week as a human services worker. Further, individuals must have maintained 12 consecutive months of employment as a human service worker at a minimum of 35 hours per week to be eligible for this program. This program will help defray costs from previously incurred student loans for graduates holding a certificate or undergraduate/graduate degrees. 

(d) Priority for funding should be given to applicants who have an individual salary less than 50 percent of the median income; who are bilingual; who are living and/or working in a vaccine equity initiative community; or who have worked in the direct care field for three or more years.

(e) Applicants will be eligible for up to $6,000 if they have an associate degree, up to $20,000 if they have a bachelor’s degree and up to $30,000 if they have a master’s degree.

(f) Other eligibility criteria may created to determine how applicants to the program should be prioritized and how much funding each would be able to apply for.