What's happening
This bill creates a student loan forgiveness program for mental health nurses who work in rural or designated mental health facilities in New York.
Why it matters
Targets workforce gaps in underserved areas. By requiring recipients to work in rural or designated mental health facilities, the bill aims to address the shortage of qualified mental health nurses in regions where access to care is often limited.
Provides incentives for recent graduates. The program is only available to those who apply within two years of graduation, encouraging new nurses to enter and remain in the mental health field shortly after completing their education.
Considers economic disadvantage. The competitive selection process includes provisions to prioritize applicants who are economically disadvantaged, potentially increasing diversity and equity within the mental health nursing workforce.
Links public investment to service commitment. Loan forgiveness is contingent on a commitment to serve in specific high-need settings (such as state psychiatric hospitals, addiction centers, and county mental health programs), tying financial relief directly to addressing critical public health needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Forgive Mental Health Nurse Loans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 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.
Forgive Loans for Mental Health Nurses
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2892
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, D'URSO, ABINANTI, STECK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. THIELE -- 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-k to read as follows:
§ 679-k. 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.
LBD01511-01-9
A. 2892 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.