DE HB380

Establishes a Public Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program administered by the Delaware Criminal Justice Council to provide loan repayment assistance to attorneys employed by the State of Delaware or civil legal aid organizations.

Eligible applicants must be active Delaware bar members with at least one year of employment in a legal position, have existing qualified educational loans, and earn less than $110,000 annually.

Awards range from $2,500 to $5,000 per year, with each applicant limited to one award per year and a maximum of 10 awards in their lifetime; funds distributed evenly among qualified applicants or prioritized by financial need if insufficient funds exist.

Council may use up to 5% of appropriated funds for program administration and shall receive funding through a separate line item in the Budget Appropriations Bill, with authority to accept private donations and federal funding.

Requires annual reporting to the General Assembly with de-identified demographic and employment data on applicants and award recipients, including race, ethnicity, age, gender, employer, and legal practice areas.