HB 542 - The act repeals current law relating to student loans for certain health professional students and establishes the "Health Professional Loan Repayment Program". Under this program, the Department of Health and Senior Services shall provide forgivable loans in order to repay existing loans for eligible educational expenses for health professional students. The Director of the Department shall have the discretion to select the health professionals who are eligible for the forgivable loans in accordance with the greatest need in the best interest of the public. Individuals receiving loans under this program shall agree to serve at least 2 years in an area of defined need as a condition of receipt of the funds, among other criteria that must be met as delineated in the act. An individual who fails to uphold the loan agreement shall be liable for the amount paid to the individual by the Department under this program. Furthermore, if an individual breaches a written contract executed pursuant to this provision by failing to begin or complete his or her service obligation, the state shall be entitled to recover from such person an amount equal to:
· The total amount of the loan awarded by the Department or, if the Department had already awarded partial forgiveness at the time of the breach, the amount of the loan not yet forgiven;
· The interest on the amount that would be payable if at the time the loan was awarded it was a loan bearing interest at the maximum prevailing rate as determined by the Treasurer of the United States;
· An amount equal to any damages incurred by the Department as a result of the breach; and
· Any legal fees or associated costs incurred by the Department or the state of Missouri in the collection of damages.
The act additionally creates the Health Professional Loan Incentive Fund for the purpose of allowing the Department to provide loans under this provision. The fund will consist of funds appropriated to it by the General Assembly.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/HB 402 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 45 & 90 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 157 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SCS/SB 70 (2023), and the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SCS/SB 106 (2023) and substantially similar to SB 555 (2023).
The act modifies the Nursing Education Incentive Program. Under current law, grant awards made under the program are limited to $150,000. This act repeals that limit. Additionally, the State Board of Nursing is required to collect, at the time of any license application or license renewal application, a Nursing Education Incentive Program surcharge from each person licensed or relicensed as a nurse under Missouri law. Such surcharge shall be equal to $1 for practical nurses and $5 for registered professional nurses.
The act repeals the Nursing Student Loan Program and the Nursing Student Loan Repayment Program.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/HB 402 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HCS/HB 417 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SCS/SB 70 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 45 & 90 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 157 (2023), the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SCS/SB 106 (2023), HB 775 (2023), and SB 552 (2023).
SARAH HASKINS