PRINTER'S NO. 699
No. 658 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY KUKOVICH, M. WHITE, O'PAKE, RHOADES, WAGNER, BELL, STOUT, COSTA, BODACK, TARTAGLIONE, KITCHEN, MUSTO, BOSCOLA, GERLACH, MELLOW, SCHWARTZ, KASUNIC, WILLIAMS, LOGAN AND STACK, MARCH 19, 2001
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 19, 2001
AN ACT 1 Providing for Commonwealth support for a Children and Youth 2 Caseworker Loan Forgiveness Program for Commonwealth 3 residents who graduate from institutions of higher education 4 and who apply their degrees to careers as children and youth 5 caseworkers in this Commonwealth. 6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 7 hereby enacts as follows: 8 Section 1. Short title. 9 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Children and 10 Youth Caseworker Loan Forgiveness Program Act. 11 Section 2. Findings and declaration of purpose. 12 The General Assembly finds and declares that: 13 (1) The number of college students planning to enter 14 careers as professionals working with children and youth 15 appears to be inadequate to meet the need for caseworkers in 16 this Commonwealth. 17 (2) Demand from industry and other opportunities attract 18 existing and potential caseworkers away from the profession.
1 (3) The pool of qualified caseworkers has diminished. 2 (4) Payment of a portion of student loans for children 3 and youth caseworkers serves the important public purpose of 4 encouraging new caseworkers to continue their careers in this 5 Commonwealth. 6 Section 3. Definitions. 7 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 8 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 9 context clearly indicates otherwise: 10 "Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance 11 Agency of the Commonwealth. 12 "Program." The Children and Youth Caseworker Loan 13 Forgiveness Program established by this act. 14 "Qualified applicant." A person who meets all of the 15 following criteria: 16 (1) The person has been hired as a full-time caseworker 17 by a county children and youth services agency through a 18 merit or civil service system approved by the Secretary of 19 Public Welfare. 20 (2) The person has successfully completed both county 21 and civil service probationary periods. 22 (3) The person is performing casework duties at a county 23 children and youth service agency. 24 (4) The person has borrowed through the agency- 25 administered Stafford Loan Program. 26 "Secretary." The Secretary of Public Welfare of the 27 Commonwealth. 28 Section 4. Children and Youth Caseworker Loan Forgiveness 29 Program. 30 (a) Establishment.--The Children and Youth Caseworker Loan 20010S0658B0699 - 2 -
1 Forgiveness Program is hereby established. The program shall be 2 administered by the agency. 3 (b) Nature of program.-- 4 (1) A qualified applicant who is selected for the 5 program under section 5 shall be eligible for payment by the 6 agency of a portion of the debt incurred by the applicant 7 through the agency-administered Stafford Loan Program for the 8 education necessary to be certified as a children and youth 9 caseworker in this Commonwealth. 10 (2) For each year that the applicant is a full-time 11 children and youth caseworker in an approved county children 12 and youth department, the agency may forgive a proportional 13 part of the applicant's loan so that the loan may be entirely 14 forgiven over four years of full-time casework. 15 (3) No more than $2,500 shall be forgiven in any year, 16 and no more than $10,000 shall be forgiven for any applicant. 17 (4) Payments shall be made in accordance with the 18 procedures established by the agency. 19 Section 5. Loan forgiveness awards. 20 Recipients of the loan forgiveness awards shall be those 21 children and youth caseworkers who are certified by the 22 secretary and who have received a satisfactory rating by the 23 county office of children and youth services. Each children and 24 youth caseworker shall be required to submit such documentation 25 of continued eligibility as the agency may require. 26 Section 6. Funding. 27 Loan forgiveness awards may be made to the extent that funds 28 are appropriated by the General Assembly. 29 Section 7. Regulations. 30 The agency may adopt such regulations, policies, procedures 20010S0658B0699 - 3 -
1 and forms as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this 2 act. 3 Section 8. Effective date. 4 This act shall take effect in 60 days. A17L24DMS/20010S0658B0699 - 4 -