Bill > HB4452

This bill establishes the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act, which aims to address a shortage of qualified professionals in hospice and palliative care services across Illinois by helping to recruit and retain these individuals. By January 1, 2027, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), referred to as the "Commission," will administer this program, offering loan repayment assistance to eligible professionals who work in state-licensed hospice programs. These eligible professionals include physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, registered nurses, social workers, clinical social workers, and practical nurses. The program will accept applications annually, and grants, which can be used to pay off educational loans, will be awarded for up to four years, with specific funding proportions encouraged for different professional roles and maximum annual award amounts set for each. To qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, state residents, have at least 12 months of experience working in a hospice program in Illinois for a minimum number of hours per week depending on their profession, and have an outstanding educational loan balance without having defaulted. Recipients must commit to working in a hospice program in Illinois for an additional 12 months for each grant received. The ISAC is also tasked with adopting rules to implement the program, which will be repealed 10 years after its effective date.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4452&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104