FL H0045

Creates section 43.45, Florida Statutes, establishing a student loan assistance program administered by the Justice Administrative Commission and Office of the Attorney General for eligible career attorneys.

Eligible career attorneys must have completed 3-12 years of continuous service as assistant state attorneys, assistant public defenders, assistant attorneys general, or assistant statewide prosecutors, with loans issued under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Provides maximum payments of $3,000 for attorneys with 3-6 years of service and $5,000 for those with 6-12 years of service, paid annually to loan lenders between July 1-31 following certification affidavit submission.

Payments cease when total assistance reaches $44,000 per eligible career attorney or when the eligible student loan is fully satisfied, whichever occurs first; if appropriated funds are insufficient, payments shall be prorated equally across all eligible attorneys.

Funding contingent upon specific appropriation in the General Appropriations Act; effective date July 1, 2015.