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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 503 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 283
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Jeffrey N. Roy and Sean Garballey
_________________
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 :DATE ADDED:Jeffrey N. Roy10th Norfolk1/9/2025Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex1/9/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire2/10/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/10/2025Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin2/10/2025Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/10/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/10/2025David Paul Linsky5th Middlesex2/18/2025Christopher Hendricks11th Bristol2/18/2025Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex2/18/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/18/2025John J. Marsi6th Worcester2/18/2025Daniel Cahill10th Essex2/18/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/18/2025Kathleen R. LaNatra12th Plymouth2/18/2025Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex2/18/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/18/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/21/2025 2 of 2
Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester2/21/2025James Arciero2nd Middlesex2/21/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 503 FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 283
By Representatives Roy of Franklin and Garballey of Arlington, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 283) of Jeffrey N. Roy, Sean Garballey and others for legislation to establish a
student loan repayment program for human service workers to encourage individuals to enter the
field and maintain employment at human service programs. Children, Families and Persons with
Disabilities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
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 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after section 16Z the following new section:-
3
4 Section 16AA. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
5clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
6 “Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts (AHEM)” priority geographic areas include
7communities facing the largest health disparities, as identified by the Executive Office of Health
8and Human Services. AHEM communities include Athol, Attleboro, Aye, Brockton, Chelsea,
9Chicopee, Dennis, Dorchester, Fall River, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Gardner, Holbrook, Holyoke,
10Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Mattapan, New Bedford, North Adams, Orange, Pittsfield, Rockland, 2 of 3
11Roxbury, Springfield, Southbridge, Ware, Wareham, Webster, Winchendon, Worcester, and
12Yarmouth.
13 “human service provider,” a community-based human services organization with a
14human services program funded by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the
15Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities or
16the Department of Early Education and Care.
17 “human services worker,” an employee of a human service provider who provides
18treatment, support or services to clients or their families.
19 “qualified education loan,” any indebtedness, including interest on such indebtedness,
20incurred to pay tuition or other direct expenses incurred in the connection with the pursuit of a
21certificate, undergraduate or graduate degree by an applicant. It shall not include loans made by
22any person related to the applicant.
23 (b) There shall be a student loan repayment program for human service workers to
24encourage individuals to enter the field and maintain employment at human service programs.
25The Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall administer the program in accordance
26with guidelines promulgated by the Department of Higher Education.
27 (c) To be eligible for the program, a participant must be working a minimum of 35 hours
28per week as a human services worker. Further, individuals must have maintained 12 consecutive
29months of employment as a human service worker at a minimum of 35 hours per week to be
30eligible for this program. This program will help defray costs from previously incurred student
31loans for graduates holding a certificate or undergraduate/graduate degrees. 3 of 3
32 (d) Eligibility criteria may be created to determine how applicants to the program should
33be prioritized and how much funding each would be able to apply for.
34 (e) Priority for funding should be given to applicants who 1) have at least three years of
35experience in the human services field, 2) work in an Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts
36(AHEM) community, 3) earn less than $60,000 annually, and 4) attest to their ability to
37communicate with consumers and provide care in a language other than English, with the
38language skill aligning with the needs of the site where they work.
39 (f) Applicants will be eligible for up to $6,000 if they have an associate degree, up to
40$20,000 if they have a bachelor’s degree and up to $30,000 if they have a master’s degree.
41 (g) Applicants must agree to service commitment in an eligible setting as follows: 1-year
42commitment for an associate degree, 2-year commitment for a bachelor’s degree and 3-year
43commitment for a master’s degree.