Bill > A3689

Introduced Session

This bill requires public and private institutions of higher education and governmental employers to provide information to certain students and employees, as applicable, concerning the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The PSLF program is an initiative run by the United States Department of Education which offers student loan forgiveness to individuals who have spent ten years working full time in the public service sector. This bill aims at increasing awareness of the PSLF program for students and employees who may qualify for loan forgiveness under the program. Under this bill, public and private institutions of higher education in the State of New Jersey will be required to provide all students who have outstanding federal student loan debt with information about the PSLF program. This information will be distributed at two points - once during the second to last academic semester of a student's program of study and once during the academic semester in which a student applies to graduate from the institution. Any employer within the State of New Jersey that is considered a qualifying government employer under the PSLF program will be required to provide employees with information about the PSLF program. Employees hired after the date of enactment of this bill will be provided with the information during the explanation of benefits at the beginning of employment. The United States Department of Education advises an annual submission of the PSLF application, therefore employers will also be required to provide employees with information about the PSLF program at least once per calendar year. The information provided to students and employees will include notification of potential eligibility for the PSLF program, provide the Internet address for the PSLF program, and explain the eligibility requirements for the PSLF program, which include: (1) employment with a qualifying employer; (2) a work schedule of at least 30 hours per week or which meets the employer's definition of full-time work, whichever is greater; (3) an outstanding balance of William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans or consolidated Federal Direct Loans; (4) repayment of the loan under an eligible payment plan, which includes an income-driven repayment plan; and (5) payment of 120 on-time, full monthly payments while employed by a qualified employer. With respect to the bill's requirements for government employers, any information about the employer necessary for the employee to fill out the PSLF program application will also be provided to the employees. The information about the PSLF program may be distributed in writing electronically, by regular mail, or in person. The Secretary of Higher Education and Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development will develop a model format for the information.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Daniel Benson (D)*,  Mila Jasey (D)*,  Bill Moen (D)*,  Angela Mcknight (D),  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Benjie Wimberly (D), 

Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 05/19/2022)

Official Document