SB3579 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 36388 RJT 66489 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB3579

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Sen. Mattie Hunter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

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.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Loan Repayment Assistance for Optometrists Act.

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

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

"Department" means the Department of Public Health.

"Educational loans" means higher education student loans that a person has incurred in attending an approved professional optometric education program.

"Optometrist" means a person licensed under the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987 to practice optometry.

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

Section 15. Establishment of program. The Department shall establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for optometrists who practice in this State. The Department shall administer the program and make all necessary and proper rules not inconsistent with this Act for the program's effective implementation. The Department may use up to 5% of the appropriation for this program for administration and promotion of optometrist incentive programs.

Section 20. Application. Beginning July 1, 2025, the Department shall, each year, consider applications for assistance under the program. The form of application and the information required to be set forth in the application shall be determined by the Department, and the Department shall require applicants to submit with their applications such supporting documents as the Department deems necessary.

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

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

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

(3) He or she must be practicing full time in this State as an optometrist.

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

(5) He or she must agree to continue full time practice in this State for at least 3 years.

Section 30. Award of grants. Under the program, for each year that a qualified applicant practices full time in this State as an optometrist, 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. However, the total amount in grants that a person may be awarded under the program may not exceed $25,000. The Department shall require recipients to use the grants to pay off their educational loans.

Section 35. Penalty for failure to fulfill obligation. Loan repayment recipients who fail to practice full time in this State for at least 3 years shall repay the Department a sum equal to the amount received under the program, plus interest.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2025.