IL HB5264

Establishes the Mental Health Clinician Tuition Assistance and Student Loan Forgiveness Program beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, administered by the Department of Human Services, to recruit and retain mental health clinicians serving Medicaid patients

Provides forgivable loans covering tuition, fees, and books for up to 2 academic years to junior and senior students at participating public universities who commit to 5 years of employment as mental health clinicians serving Medicaid patients

Offers student loan repayment assistance for up to 2 years to graduates already working as mental health clinicians who commit to 5 years of service providing direct care to Medicaid patients

Requires recipients who fail to meet the 5-year employment commitment to repay financial assistance on a prorated basis at 5% interest, with repayment beginning within 90 days of non-compliance

Mandates annual reporting to the General Assembly and Governor starting October 1, 2024, tracking program participation, employment outcomes, and recipient locations, while exempting recipient names from public disclosure under FOIA