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Bill > S4846


NJ S4846

NJ S4846
"Public-Private Alliance to Retain Talent and Expand Regional Health Program Act"; creates grant program within DOH for student-loan and tuition relief and appropriates $5 million.


summary

Introduced
11/10/2025
In Committee
11/10/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill creates a new program, the "Public-Private Alliance to Retain Talent and Expand Regional Health Program," within the State Department of Health. The program would be a public-private partnership intended to recruit and retain health care professionals in the State by providing the health care professionals with student loan or tuition relief. Under this bill, the Department of Health would contract with a qualified recruitment and retention servicer to provide student-debt or tuition relief to students who have entered into a postgraduate employment agreement with a partner hospital located within the State. In addition to application requirements, the bill requires that the qualified recruitment and retention servicer secure agreements of a 200 percent match from partner hospitals to secure State funds, unless the partner hospital is University Hospital. Lastly, the bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to effectuate the purposes of the program.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the "Public-Private Alliance to Retain Talent and Expand Regional Health Program" within the New Jersey State Department of Health to help address healthcare professional workforce challenges. The program will provide grants to qualified recruitment and retention servicers (specialized entities that coordinate between educational institutions and hospitals) to assist healthcare professional students with securing post-graduation employment and repaying student loans or tuition expenses. Applicants must partner with hospitals that agree to provide matching funds at 200% of the grant amount (with an exception for University Hospital), and individual students can receive up to $10,000 per year or $30,000 in total. To receive funding, students must commit to working at their partner hospital for at least three years. The bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to implement the program, and requires the Commissioner of Health to submit annual reports evaluating the program's effectiveness in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. The program defines healthcare professionals broadly, excluding certain specialized practitioners like chiropractors and veterinarians, and aims to create new educational and career opportunities in the healthcare sector by facilitating loan repayment and tuition assistance.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 11/10/2025)

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