93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB6552


 
Introduced 2/6/2004, by Tom Cross
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		












New Act











    Creates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Physicians Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for physicians who practice in Illinois. Provides that beginning July 1, 2004, the Department shall consider applications for assistance under the program. Sets forth eligibility requirements for applicants. Provides that for each year that a qualified applicant practices full-time as a physician, the Department shall, subject to appropriation, award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay that year. Provides that the total amount in grants that a person may be awarded shall not exceed $25,000.  Provides that loan payment recipients who fail to practice full-time in Illinois for 3 years shall repay the Department a sum equal to 3 times the amount received under the program. Effective July 1, 2004.















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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB6552

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    AN ACT concerning loan repayment assistance for 
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physicians. 

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
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represented in the General Assembly: 


 
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    Section 1. Short title. 
This Act may be cited as the Loan

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Repayment Assistance for Physicians Act.


 
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    Section 5. Purpose.  The purpose of this Act is to 
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establish a
program in the Department of Public Health to 
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increase the total number
of physicians in this State by 
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providing educational loan repayment assistance grants
to

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physicians.



 
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    Section 10. Definitions.  In this Act, unless the context 
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otherwise requires:


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    "Department" means the Department of Public Health.


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    "Educational loans" means higher education student loans 
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that a
person has incurred in attending a registered 
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professional physician
education program.


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    "Physician" means a person licensed under the Medical 
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Practice Act of 1987 to practice medicine in all of its 
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branches.


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    "Program" means the educational loan repayment assistance 
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program for
physicians established by the Department under this 
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Act.



 
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    Section 15. Establishment of program.  The Department shall

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establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for 
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physicians who
practice in Illinois. The Department shall 
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administer
the program and make all necessary and proper rules 
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not inconsistent
with this Act for the program's effective 
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implementation. The
Department may use up to 5% of the 
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appropriation for this program for
administration and 
 


 






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promotion of physician incentive programs.



 
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    Section 20. Application.  Beginning July 1, 2004, the

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Department shall, each year, consider applications for

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assistance under the program. The form of application and the

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information required to be set forth in the application shall 
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be
determined by the Department, and the Department shall 
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require
applicants to submit with their applications such 
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supporting
documents as the Department deems necessary.



 
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    Section 25. Eligibility.  To be eligible for
assistance 
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under the program, an applicant must meet all of the
following 
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qualifications:


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        (1) He or she must be a citizen or permanent resident 
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    of the
United States.


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        (2) He or she must be a resident of Illinois.


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        (3) He or she must be practicing full-time in Illinois 
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    as a physician.


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        (4) He or she must currently be repaying educational 
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    loans.


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        (5) He or she must agree to continue full-time practice 
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    in Illinois for 3 years.

 
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    Section 30. The award of grants.  Under the program, for 
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each year
that a qualified applicant practices full-time in 
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Illinois as a physician, the Department shall, subject to 
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appropriation, award
a grant to that person in an amount equal 
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to the amount in
educational loans that the person must repay 
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that year. However, the
total amount in grants that a person 
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may be awarded under the program
shall not exceed $25,000. The 
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Department shall require recipients to
use the grants to pay 
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off their educational loans.



 
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    Section 35. Penalty for failure to fulfill obligation.  Loan 
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repayment recipients who fail to practice full-time in Illinois 
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for 3 years shall repay the Department a sum equal to 3 times 
 


 






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the amount received under the program.
 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
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2004.