Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S77 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 2
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 512 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 77
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Sal N. DiDomenico
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to a loan repayment program for human services workers.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and SuffolkHannah Kane11th Worcester1/25/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester1/27/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin1/27/2023Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk1/27/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth1/27/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/27/2023Robyn K. KennedyFirst Worcester1/27/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/31/2023Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex2/1/2023John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/2/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex2/7/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex2/7/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/8/2023Anne M. GobiWorcester and Hampshire2/8/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/21/2023Liz MirandaSecond Suffolk3/1/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex3/2/2023 2 of 2
16	16	Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex3/2/2023 1 of 2
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 512 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 77
19	19	By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 77) of Sal N. DiDomenico,
20	20	Hannah Kane, Brian W. Murray, Susannah M. Whipps and other members of the General Court
21	21	for legislation relative to a loan repayment program for human services workers. Children,
22	22	Families and Persons with Disabilities.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act relative to a loan repayment program for human services workers.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
32	32	2amended by inserting after section 16Z the following new section:-
33	33	3 Section 16AA. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
34	34	4clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
35	35	5 “human service provider,” a community-based human services organization with a
36	36	6human services program funded by the executive office of health and human services, the
37	37	7executive office of elder affairs, the department of housing and community development or the
38	38	8department of early education and care.
39	39	9 “human services worker,” an employee of a human service provider who provides
40	40	10treatment, support or services to clients or their families. 2 of 2
41	41	11 “qualified education loan,” any indebtedness, including interest on such indebtedness,
42	42	12incurred to pay tuition or other direct expenses incurred in the connection with the pursuit of a
43	43	13certificate, undergraduate or graduate degree by an applicant. It shall not include loans made by
44	44	14any person related to the applicant.
45	45	15 (b) There shall be a student loan repayment program for human service workers to
46	46	16encourage individuals to enter the field and maintain employment at human service programs.
47	47	17The executive office of health and human services shall administer the program in accordance
48	48	18with guidelines promulgated by the department of higher education.
49	49	19 (c) To be eligible for the program, a participant must be working a minimum of 35 hours
50	50	20per week as a human services worker. Further, individuals must have maintained 12 consecutive
51	51	21months of employment as a human service worker at a minimum of 35 hours per week to be
52	52	22eligible for this program. This program will help defray costs from previously incurred student
53	53	23loans for graduates holding a certificate or undergraduate/graduate degrees.
54	54	24 (d) Priority for funding should be given to applicants who have an individual salary less
55	55	25than 50 percent of the median income; who are bilingual; who are living and/or working in a
56	56	26vaccine equity initiative community; or who have worked in the direct care field for three or
57	57	27more years.
58	58	28 (e) Applicants will be eligible for up to $6,000 if they have an associate degree, up to
59	59	29$20,000 if they have a bachelor’s degree and up to $30,000 if they have a master’s degree.
60	60	30 (f) Other eligibility criteria may created to determine how applicants to the program
61	61	31should be prioritized and how much funding each would be able to apply for.