Bill > A08644

This bill expands the eligibility period for indigent legal service attorneys to receive certain loan forgiveness and increases the loan reimbursement amount for certain attorneys who work in legal services with indigent clients. Specifically, the bill amends the Education Law to extend the "eligible period" for loan forgiveness from 6 years to 7 years after the completion of the second year of employment, and increases the annual loan reimbursement amount from $3,400 to $5,500 per year of qualified service, subject to available funding. The bill also clarifies that time periods during which a law school graduate was employed by a prosecuting agency, criminal defense agency, or non-profit indigent civil legal services corporation while awaiting bar admission can be counted towards the eligible period and qualified service.