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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 996 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 891
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Liz Miranda
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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 the primary care workforce development and loan repayment grant program at
community health centers.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Liz MirandaSecond SuffolkJoanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/27/2025Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex2/10/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 996 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 891
By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 891) of Liz Miranda, Joanne M.
Comerford and Michael J. Barrett for legislation relative to the primary care workforce
development and loan repayment grant program at community health centers. Health Care
Financing.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 781 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to the primary care workforce development and loan repayment grant program at
community health centers.
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 appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by inserting after section 16FF the following section:-
3 Section 16GG. (a) There shall be established a primary care workforce development and
4loan forgiveness grant program at community health centers for the purpose of enhancing
5recruitment and retention of primary care physicians, other clinicians, bachelor’s degree-level
6mental health and primary care professionals including, but not limited to, community health
7workers, recovery coaches and family partners, as well as all other non-clinician staff at
8community health centers throughout the Commonwealth. Priority shall be given to clinicians
9and bachelor’s degree-level mental health and primary care professionals. The grant program 2 of 2
10shall be administered by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, provided, that the
11office may contract with an organization to administer the grant program. This program shall
12ensure the continuation of state-level loan repayment for clinicians at community health centers
13including but not limited to those programs established by Chapter 102 of the acts of 2021,
14reserve 1599-2026.
15 (b) The program shall prioritize the recruitment and retention of a culturally, ethnically
16and linguistically diverse workforce; provided further, that to be eligible for loan repayment
17assistance under this item, an individual shall: (i) work in a community health center; (ii) have
18outstanding educational debt; (iii) not participate in any other loan repayment program; and (iv)
19be required to enter into a contract with the commonwealth for not less than 4 years; provided
20further, that the amount of assistance per individual shall be pro-rated for individuals working on
21a part-time basis; provided further, that the executive office shall promulgate regulations for the
22administration and enforcement of the loan repayment assistance program under this item which
23shall include penalties and repayment procedures if a participating individual fails to comply
24with the program requirements;
25 (c) The program shall be funded through expenditures from the Behavioral Health and
26Community-Based Primary Care Reserve established in section 2A of chapter 102 of the acts of
272021.