PRINTER'S NO. 4110
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2675
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, MURT, FREEMAN, DeLUCA, READSHAW, HILL-
EVANS, ROEBUCK AND CONKLIN, JULY 8, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 8, 2020
AN ACT
Establishing the Student Loan Forgiveness for Optometrists
Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Student Loan
Forgiveness for Optometrists Act.
Section 2. Declaration of purpose.
The General Assembly declares that the purpose of this act is
to provide an incentive for individuals to pursue higher
education and training in optometry and practice optometry in
this Commonwealth.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency.
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"Award recipient." An eligible individual who receives
student loan forgiveness under the program.
"Eligible individual." An individual who:
(1) holds an undergraduate degree from an institution of
higher learning and graduated from an accredited optometric
educational institution; or
(2) is a practicing optometrist in this Commonwealth.
"Optometrist." An individual licensed to practice optometry
under the act of June 6, 1980 (P.L.197, No.57), known as the
Optometric Practice and Licensure Act.
"Program." The Student Loan Forgiveness for Optometrists
Program under section 4.
Section 4. Student Loan Forgiveness for Optometrists Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Student Loan Forgiveness for
Optometrists Program is established within the agency.
(b) Administration.--The agency shall administer the program
for the purpose of providing student loan forgiveness for
eligible individuals who enter into an agreement with the agency
to practice optometry in this Commonwealth as provided under
subsection (c).
(c) Loan forgiveness.--The agency shall forgive 50% of an
eligible individual's student loans, not to exceed $200,000, if
the eligible individual enters into an agreement with the agency
to practice optometry in this Commonwealth for a period of three
consecutive years.
(d) Agreement provisions.--The agreement under subsection
(c) shall include the following terms:
(1) If the award recipient is not licensed to practice
optometry in this Commonwealth, the award recipient shall
apply for an optometry license to practice in this
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Commonwealth at the earliest practicable opportunity.
(2) Within six months after entering into an agreement
under subsection (c), the award recipient shall practice
optometry in this Commonwealth according to the terms of the
student loan forgiveness award.
(3) The award recipient shall agree to practice
optometry in this Commonwealth on a full-time basis.
(4) The award recipient shall permit the agency to
determine compliance with the work requirement specified in
the agreement under subsection (c). If the award recipient
fails to comply with the work requirement, the award
recipient shall reimburse the Commonwealth for the amount of
student loan forgiveness received, including interest accrued
as determined by the agency. The award recipient and the
agency shall make every effort to resolve conflicts in order
to prevent a breach of the agreement under subsection (c).
(5) Upon the award recipient's death or total or
permanent disability, the agency shall not be required to
provide student loan forgiveness under the program.
(6) The agency may terminate student loan forgiveness
and demand repayment of the amount of student loans forgiven
if:
(i) the award recipient is convicted of or pleads
guilty or no contest to a felony; or
(ii) the State Board of Optometry has determined
that the award recipient has committed an act of gross
negligence in the practice of optometry or has suspended
or revoked the award recipient's license to practice.
(e) Agreement enforcement.--Notwithstanding 42 Pa.C.S. ยง
8127 (relating to personal earnings exempt from process), the
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agency may seek garnishment of wages of an award recipient who
fails to comply with the agreement under subsection (c) for the
amount of student loan forgiveness provided to the award
recipient.
Section 5. Tax applicability.
Student loan forgiveness received under this act shall not be
considered taxable income for purposes of Article III of the act
of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of
1971.
Section 6. Annual report.
(a) Development of report.--By September 1, 2020, and each
September 1 thereafter, the agency shall compile a report
regarding the operation of the program for the immediately
preceding fiscal year. The report shall include the following
information:
(1) The number and amount of student loan forgiveness
agreements executed and renewed for eligible recipients.
(2) The number of defaulted student loan forgiveness
agreements and the cause for the defaults.
(3) The number of eligible individuals participating in
the program.
(4) The number and type of enforcement actions taken by
the agency regarding the implementation of the program.
(b) Submission.--The agency shall submit the report under
subsection (a) to the following individuals:
(1) The Governor.
(2) The chair and minority chair of the Appropriations
Committee of the Senate.
(3) The chair and minority chair of the Education
Committee of the Senate.
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(4) The chair and minority chair of the Health and Human
Services Committee of the Senate.
(5) The chair and minority chair of the Appropriations
Committee of the House of Representatives.
(6) The chair and minority chair of the Education
Committee of the House of Representatives.
Section 7. Funding.
Student loan forgiveness payments under this act shall be
made only to the extent that funds are appropriated for the
program and are sufficient to cover administration of the
program. Student loan forgiveness under this act shall not
constitute an entitlement derived from the Commonwealth or a
claim on any funds of the Commonwealth.
Section 8. Regulations.
The agency shall promulgate regulations necessary to
administer this act.
Section 9. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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