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Senate Bill 480
By: Senators Hodges of the 3rd, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Watson of the 1st, Hufstetler of the
52nd, Summers of the 13th and others
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 10 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
1
Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, so as to provide for student loan repayment for2
mental health and substance use professionals serving in certain capacities; to provide for3
definitions; to authorize the board to approve applications; to provide for eligibility4
requirements; to provide for loan repayment agreements and conditions; to provide for rules5
and regulations; to provide for appropriations contingency; to provide for related matters; to6
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
Chapter 10 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia10
Board of Health Care Workforce, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as11
follows:12
"49-10-7.
13
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:14
(1) 'Eligible applicant' means a person who:15
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(A) Is a legal resident of the State of Georgia as established by rules and regulations16
of the board;17
(B) Is a mental health or substance use professional licensed in this state; and18
(C)(i) Provides services to underserved youth in this state; or19
(ii) Practices in unserved geographic areas or communities in this state that are20
disproportionately impacted by social determinants of health, as determined by the21
board.22
(2) 'Mental health or substance use professional' means a psychiatrist, psychologist,23
professional counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, clinical nurse24
specialist in psychiatric/mental health, or other licensed mental or behavioral health25
clinician or specialist.26
(3) 'Recipient' means an eligible applicant who applied for and was approved by the27
board for student loan repayment under this Code section.28
(4) 'Student loan' means debt incurred by an eligible applicant that is:29
(A) Evidenced by a promissory note which required the funds received to be used to30
pay for the cost of attendance for the undergraduate, graduate, or professional education31
of the eligible applicant;32
(B) Not in default at the time of application for repayment under this Code section; and33
(C) Not subject to an existing service obligation or to repayment through another34
student loan repayment or loan forgiveness program or as a condition of employment.35
(b) The board shall have the authority to approve the applications of eligible applicants36
submitted in accordance with rules and regulations established by the board governing the37
student loan repayment application process.38
(c) The board is authorized to provide for the repayment of student loans held by recipients39
in consideration of the recipient performing services as a mental health or substance use40
professional in accordance with subparagraph (a)(1)(C) of this Code section.41
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(d)(1) Each recipient before being granted any student loan repayment shall enter into42
a student loan repayment agreement with the board agreeing to the terms and conditions43
upon which the student loan repayment is granted, including such terms and conditions44
set forth in this Code section.45
(2) The board shall have the power to terminate a student loan repayment agreement at46
any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the board, provided that such power shall not47
be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised.48
(e) Each student loan repayment agreement entered into under the authority granted in this49
Code section shall:50
(1) Provide for repayment of the recipient's student loans in a total amount to be51
determined by the board, but not exceeding the total student loan debt of the recipient,52
to be paid out in installments made each 12 months over a term of not more than five53
years. A student loan repayment made pursuant to this Code section shall be paid in such54
manner as the board shall establish by rules and regulations;55
(2) Provide that any payment made by the board under a student loan repayment56
agreement shall be made in consideration of services rendered by the recipient57
performing services as a mental health or substance use professional in accordance with58
subparagraph (a)(1)(C) of this Code section;59
(3) Provide that the board shall make a payment toward the recipient's student loans, in60
an amount set forth in the agreement, for each 12 months the recipient performs services61
as a mental health or substance use professional in accordance with62
subparagraph (a)(1)(C) of this Code section; and63
(4) Require that the recipient shall remain a legal resident of the state as established by64
rules and regulations of the board; maintain licensure in this state as a mental health or65
substance use professional; and perform services as a mental health or substance use66
professional in accordance with subparagraph (a)(1)(C) of this Code section at all times67
during the term of the agreement.68
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(f) The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as are reasonable and necessary to69
implement the provisions of this Code section.70
(g) Student loan repayment for recipients having entered into a student loan repayment71
agreement with the board pursuant to this Code section shall be contingent upon the72
appropriation of funds by the General Assembly for the purposes of this Code section in73
annual appropriations Acts of the General Assembly."74
SECTION 2.75
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.76
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