Bill Text: MI HB6137 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Higher education; financial aid; student loan repayment program for certain licensed social workers; create. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 6138'18
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-06-12 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 06/07/2018 [HB6137 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-HB6137-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL No. 6137
June 7, 2018, Introduced by Reps. Chang and Rendon and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
A bill to establish a licensed social workers student loan
repayment program for certain social workers serving in areas of
need; and to prescribe certain powers and duties of certain state
officers, agencies, and departments.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"licensed social workers student loan repayment act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Critical human service area" means a geographical area in
this state that meets the criteria provided for in 42 CFR Part 5,
Appendix C, for designation as a geographical area that has a
shortage of mental health professionals.
(b) "Critical human service field" means a field of social
work, including, but not limited to, social work in schools,
substance abuse programs, correctional facilities and criminal
justice programs, mental health facilities and programs, physical
and sexual violence programs, aging programs, HIV/AIDS programs,
veterans services, and child welfare services, in which there is a
critical need for licensed social workers as determined by the
department with the advice of the Michigan board of social work
created in section 18505 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368,
MCL 333.18505, or another recognized organization of social work
professionals.
(c) "Department" means the department of health and human
services or its designee.
(d) "Eligible debt" means the remaining balance of all loans
that meet both of the following conditions:
(i) Were obtained by an individual to pay qualified
educational expenses at a postsecondary educational institution for
a course of study leading to a degree necessary to become a
licensed social worker.
(ii) Are insured, reinsured, subsidized, guaranteed, or made
by this state, an agency of this state, the United States, or an
agency of the United States.
(e) "Full-time" means at least 30 hours per week.
(f) "Licensed social worker" means an individual licensed
under article 15 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL
333.16101 to 333.18838, to engage in the practice of social work at
the bachelor's or master's level.
(g) "Low income" means income at or below 250% of the federal
poverty guidelines published annually in the federal register by
the United States Department of Health and Human Services under its
authority to revise the poverty line under 42 USC 9902.
(h) "Postsecondary educational institution" means a degree- or
certificate-granting public or private college or university,
junior college, or community college that is located in this state.
(i) "Qualified educational expenses" means tuition and fees
required for the enrollment or attendance of a student at a
postsecondary educational institution and expenses for fees, books,
supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at that
postsecondary educational institution.
Sec. 3. The licensed social workers student loan repayment
program is created, to be administered by the department. The
department shall do all of the following:
(a) Award grants to eligible individuals pursuant to this act.
(b) Develop application forms and procedures for individuals
applying for grants under this act. These forms and procedures must
ensure that an individual separately apply each year for which he
or she seeks a grant.
(c) Publicize the licensed social workers student loan
repayment program.
(d) Promulgate rules to implement this act pursuant to the
administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to
24.328.
Sec. 4. The department may award a grant under this act to an
individual determined by the department to meet all of the
following eligibility criteria:
(a) Is a licensed social worker in good standing.
(b) Is a United States citizen or permanent resident of the
United States.
(c) Has resided continuously in this state for the 12 months
immediately preceding the date of his or her application for a
grant under this act and is not a resident of any other state.
(d) Has eligible debt.
(e) Meets at least 2 of the following:
(i) Has worked full-time in a critical human service area
during the year immediately preceding the date of his or her
application for a grant under this act.
(ii) Has worked full-time in a critical human service field
during the year immediately preceding the date of his or her
application for a grant under this act.
(iii) Has received low income performing the work described in
subparagraph (i) or (ii).
Sec. 5. (1) An individual eligible under section 4 shall be
awarded all of the following grants for which he or she qualifies:
(a) An individual who completes 1 year of continuous full-time
employment in a critical human service area or a critical human
service field shall receive a grant in an amount equal to the
remaining principal balance of his or her eligible debt at the time
of the grant application or $15,000.00, whichever is less.
(b) An individual who completes more than 1 year of continuous
full-time employment in a critical human service area or a critical
human service field shall receive a grant in an amount equal to 1
of the following:
(i) For a completed second year, the remaining principal
balance of his or her eligible debt at the time of the grant
application or $15,000.00, whichever is less.
(ii) For less than a completed second year, a portion of the
amount described in subparagraph (i), prorated based on the number
of months of continuous full-time employment in a critical human
service area or a critical human service field.
(c) An individual who completes more than 2 years of
continuous full-time employment in a critical human service area or
a critical human service field shall receive a grant in an amount
equal to 1 of the following:
(i) For a completed third year, the remaining principal
balance of his or her eligible debt at the time of the grant
application or $15,000.00, whichever is less.
(ii) For less than a completed third year, a portion of the
amount described in subparagraph (i), prorated based on the number
of months of continuous full-time employment in a critical human
service area or a critical human service field.
(d) An individual who completes more than 3 years of
continuous full-time employment in a critical human service area or
a critical human service field shall receive a grant in an amount
equal to 1 of the following:
(i) For a completed fourth year, the remaining principal
balance of his or her eligible debt at the time of the grant
application or $15,000.00, whichever is less.
(ii) For less than a completed fourth year, a portion of the
amount described in subparagraph (i), prorated based on the number
of months of continuous full-time employment in a critical human
service area or a critical human service field.
(2) A grant under subsection (1) shall be reduced by an amount
equal to the amount the individual is entitled to receive from any
state or federal loan repayment program for which he or she is
qualified at the time of the grant application.
(3) A grant under subsection (1) shall be paid by the
department directly to the eligible grant applicant, to be applied
by that individual to his or her eligible debt.
(4) If there are insufficient funds to award full grants to
all qualifying applicants under subsection (1), grants shall first
be paid to those applicants who meet all 3 requirements set forth
in section 4(e)(i) to (iii), prorated among them if necessary. If
funds are sufficient to award full grants to those applicants who
meet all 3 requirements set forth in section 4(e)(i) to (iii),
remaining funds, if any, shall be used to award grants to remaining
qualifying applicants under subsection (1), prorated among them if
necessary.
Sec. 6. Money required to implement the licensed social
workers student loan repayment program created under this act shall
be appropriated from the licensed social workers student loan
repayment fund created in section 3 of the licensed social workers
student loan repayment fund act and any other source the
legislature considers necessary to implement this act.
Enacting section 1. This act does not take effect unless
Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 6138 (request no. 06601'18) of
the 99th Legislature is enacted into law.
