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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. 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
Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex3/2/2023 1 of 2
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:
1 Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after section 16Z the following new section:-
3 Section 16AA. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
4clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
5 “human service provider,” a community-based human services organization with a
6human services program funded by the executive office of health and human services, the
7executive office of elder affairs, the department of housing and community development or the
8department of early education and care.
9 “human services worker,” an employee of a human service provider who provides
10treatment, support or services to clients or their families. 2 of 2
11 “qualified education loan,” any indebtedness, including interest on such indebtedness,
12incurred to pay tuition or other direct expenses incurred in the connection with the pursuit of a
13certificate, undergraduate or graduate degree by an applicant. It shall not include loans made by
14any person related to the applicant.
15 (b) There shall be a student loan repayment program for human service workers to
16encourage individuals to enter the field and maintain employment at human service programs.
17The executive office of health and human services shall administer the program in accordance
18with guidelines promulgated by the department of higher education.
19 (c) To be eligible for the program, a participant must be working a minimum of 35 hours
20per week as a human services worker. Further, individuals must have maintained 12 consecutive
21months of employment as a human service worker at a minimum of 35 hours per week to be
22eligible for this program. This program will help defray costs from previously incurred student
23loans for graduates holding a certificate or undergraduate/graduate degrees.
24 (d) Priority for funding should be given to applicants who have an individual salary less
25than 50 percent of the median income; who are bilingual; who are living and/or working in a
26vaccine equity initiative community; or who have worked in the direct care field for three or
27more years.
28 (e) Applicants will be eligible for up to $6,000 if they have an associate degree, up to
29$20,000 if they have a bachelor’s degree and up to $30,000 if they have a master’s degree.
30 (f) Other eligibility criteria may created to determine how applicants to the program
31should be prioritized and how much funding each would be able to apply for.