IL SB3714

Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish by January 1, 2025 the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Professional Loan Repayment Program to provide loan repayment assistance to eligible healthcare professionals working in licensed, Medicare-certified hospice programs in the state.

Eligible professionals include physicians, licensed advanced practice registered nurses, licensed registered nurses, licensed social workers, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed practical nurses who have worked at least 12 consecutive months in a hospice program (minimum 10 hours per week for physicians, 32 hours for others).

Commission shall award grants for a maximum of 4 years with annual award amounts capped at 15% of an awardee's total outstanding educational loan balance, with appropriated funds divided as follows: 10% physicians, 10% advanced practice nurses, 42% registered nurses, 28% social workers, and 10% practical nurses.

Priority for funding shall be given first to new qualified applicants who are members of racial minorities (Black, Hispanic, Asian American, or American Indian/Alaskan Native), then to other qualified new applicants.

Act becomes inoperative 10 years after the effective date; applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, Illinois residents, and cannot have defaulted on educational loans.