HI HB549

Establishes the Public Service Legal Loan Repayment Assistance Program to provide loan repayment assistance to licensed lawyers practicing in public service positions serving indigent persons.

Program shall be jointly administered by the Hawaii Justice Foundation and the William S. Richardson School of Law, with an advisory board including representatives from the Hawaii State Bar Association, Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, Hawaii Justice Foundation, and the law school.

Eligible participants must work in legal positions providing direct legal assistance to indigent persons through nonprofit organizations and must be in good standing with the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Maximum assistance of $10,000 per year per participant (adjusted for inflation) with a cumulative lifetime cap of $50,000 (adjusted for inflation), with payments made quarterly for up to five years or until eligible educational debt is repaid.

Establishes a self-sustaining fund in the state treasury supported by legislative appropriations and private contributions; participants must contribute at least 5% of gross monthly salary toward loan repayment and must first exhaust assistance from other sources.