FL H0077

Creates section 43.45, Florida Statutes, establishing a student loan assistance program for eligible career attorneys including assistant state attorneys, assistant public defenders, assistant regional counsel, assistant attorneys general, and assistant statewide prosecutors

Requires eligible career attorneys to have completed 3 to 12 years of continuous service and submit annual certification affidavits to receive assistance for eligible student loans issued under the Higher Education Act of 1965

Administering bodies (Justice Administrative Commission or Office of the Attorney General) shall make payments of $3,000 for attorneys with 3-6 years of service or $5,000 for those with 6-12 years of service, whichever is less than the maximum available amount

Payments are made directly to lenders between July 1-31 of the fiscal year following certification and cease upon reaching $44,000 per attorney or full loan satisfaction, whichever occurs first

Program funding is contingent upon specific appropriation in the General Appropriations Act, with both administering bodies required to develop administrative procedures; effective July 1, 2014