What's happening
This bill creates a loan forgiveness program for mental health nurses in New York who work in rural or public mental health settings.
Why it matters
Targets the mental health workforce shortage. by incentivizing newly graduated nurses to work in underserved rural or public mental health settings, which often struggle to attract and retain qualified staff.
Prioritizes economically disadvantaged applicants. , potentially making the mental health field more accessible to nurses from lower-income backgrounds who might otherwise be deterred by student debt.
Restricts eligibility to recent graduates from New York colleges. , encouraging in-state education and retention of talent within New York's healthcare system.
Links loan forgiveness directly to service in specific high-need settings. (like state psychiatric hospitals, in-patient units, addiction centers, and county-run mental health programs), potentially improving care for vulnerable populations in these facilities.
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Who cares
Nurses with student debt
Professional and practical nurses, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists could compete for loan forgiveness if they earned a degree at an approved New York college or university, apply within two years of graduation and meet the service requirements.
Rural mental health providers
Providers in qualifying rural areas could attract applicants who must commit to practicing there for the duration of their awards.
Psychiatric hospitals and behavioral health programs
State psychiatric hospitals, hospital inpatient psychiatric units, addiction treatment centers, behavioral health clinics and county-run mental health programs would be eligible service settings for award recipients.
Economically disadvantaged applicants
The program’s competitive award rules would have to include provisions for considering economically disadvantaged applicants.
Headline styles
Forgive Loans for Mental Health Nurses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Erase Loans for Mental Nurses
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8211
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing loan forgiveness for mental health nurses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 679-j to read as follows:
§ 679-j. New York state mental health nurse loan forgiveness incentive program. 1. Purpose. The president shall grant student loan forgiveness awards for the purpose of alleviating the burden of student loan debt for mental health nurses in New York state. Such awards shall be made on a competitive basis as promulgated by the corporation for such purposes, to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. Such rules and regulations shall include provisions for the consideration of applicants who are economically disadvantaged.
2. Eligibility. To be eligible for an award pursuant to this section, applicants shall:
(a) have graduated and obtained a degree from an approved New York state college or university;
(b) have an outstanding student loan debt from obtaining such degree;
(c) be employed as a professional or practical nurse, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist in New York state in accordance with sections six thousand nine hundred five, six thousand nine hundred six, six thousand nine hundred ten and six thousand nine hundred eleven of this chapter;
(d) apply for this program within two years of college graduation;
(e) comply with subdivisions three and five of section six hundred sixty-one of this part;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10859-04-7
A. 8211 2
(f) make a commitment to practice in a tract or county defined by the health resources and services administration as being "rural" or eligible for a rural health grant; and
(g) make a commitment to practice in state psychiatric hospitals, hospital in-patient psychiatric units, addiction treatment centers, behavioral health clinics or a county run mental health program for the duration of the award.
3. Awards. The corporation shall grant such awards within amounts appropriated for such purposes and based on the availability of funds.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.