Bill > SB900

This bill establishes two new loan forgiveness programs administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to address workforce shortages in mental health, intellectual disability, and alcohol and drug addiction treatment services. The Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Staff Member Loan Forgiveness Program and the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor Loan Forgiveness Program will provide financial assistance to professionals who commit to working full-time in these critical fields within Pennsylvania. Eligible participants must be Pennsylvania residents with relevant academic degrees, employed full-time at qualifying facilities, and have Stafford or consolidation loans. The programs will forgive up to $6,250 per year, with a maximum of $25,000 total, over a four-year period for participants who maintain full-time employment. Recipients must sign a contract agreeing to work in their field for at least four years, and the loan forgiveness will be nullified in cases of death, permanent disability, or felony conviction. The bill requires PHEAA to submit annual reports detailing program participation, defaults, and enforcement actions, and specifies that loan forgiveness payments will not be considered taxable income. Funding for the programs will depend on legislative appropriations, with a random lottery system used if funds are insufficient to support all eligible applicants.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=900