HB24-1049 Summary

• Creates a loan repayment program in the Department of Higher Education providing up to $10,000 annually to eligible school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers for up to three years, not to exceed $10,000 total.

• Establishes the Licensed School Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program Fund in the state treasury, funded by legislative appropriations and gifts or grants, with money used solely for qualified loan repayment.

• Targets professionals serving schools with limited mental health resources, prioritizing those who are the only mental health professional employed or those in schools with fewer than one professional per 500 students.

• Requires eligible professionals to hold a master's degree or doctorate in a relevant field, work full-time for a qualifying school entity, and commit to serving in the position for at least three consecutive academic years or repay the forgiven loan amount.

• Mandates annual reports to education committees on program participants, funds distributed, and student-to-professional ratios, with the program set to expire July 1, 2029.