House Bill 1167

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES SOCIAL WORK LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM" TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE FINANCIAL AID BOARD; TO PROVIDE FOR THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPLICANTS UNDER THE LOAN PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE AWARD AMOUNTS FOR RECIPIENTS WHO HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT TO WORK IN A SERVICE AREA THAT IS NOT DESIGNATED AS A GEOGRAPHICAL CRITICAL TEACHER SHORTAGE AREA; TO PROVIDE AWARD AMOUNTS FOR RECIPIENTS WHO HAVE SIGNED A CONTRACT TO WORK IN A SERVICE AREA THAT IS DESIGNATED AS A GEOGRAPHICAL CRITICAL SOCIAL WORKER SHORTAGE AREA; TO REQUIRE A RECIPIENT TO KEEP THE BOARD INFORMED OF ANY CHANGES TO HIS OR HER CONTACT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS DURING THE YEAR FOR WHICH THE AWARD IS GRANTED; TO PROVIDE THAT RECIPIENTS WHO FAIL TO MAINTAIN A SOCIAL WORK LICENSE OR FAIL TO FULFILL THE ONE-YEAR CONTRACT ON WHICH THE AWARD WAS BASED SHALL FORFEIT ANY RIGHT TO THE AWARD; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES, TO TRACK CERTAIN DATA OF RECIPIENTS THROUGH THEIR FIFTH SOCIAL WORK YEAR, UNLESS THE RECIPIENT LEAVES THE DEPARTMENT AT AN EARLIER DATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is established the "Mississippi Child Protection Services Social Work Loan Repayment Program."

(2) Subject to the availability of funds, an eligible applicant for an initial award must have:

(a) Graduated from a baccalaureate or masters degree-granting institution of higher learning which is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) or a comparable accreditation body;

(b) Signed a contract as a full-time social worker with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services; and

(c) Outstanding qualifying undergraduate educational loans, which may include the principal, interest and related expenses such as the required interest premium on the unpaid balances of government and commercial loans obtained by the recipient for undergraduate or graduate educational expense.

(3) Persons who have received funds from other forgivable loan programs established under Mississippi law, or who are presently in default or delinquent on any federal, state, local or commercial qualifying educational loan, shall not be eligible for this program.

(4) Initial recipients shall be selected on a first-come,

first-served basis of all eligible applicants, which shall be

limited to only one hundred fifty (150) individuals receiving

scholarship funds. In the second and subsequent years of an

applicant's continued eligibility, priority consideration shall

first be given to renewal applicants. In any given year only one

hundred fifty (150) new applicants shall be eligible to receive

funds under the program.

(5) Among first-time, first-year recipients, priority consideration shall be given to persons who are in a service area designated as a geographical critical teacher shortage area by MDCPS.

(6) Awards for recipients who have signed a contract to work in a service area that is not designated as a geographical critical teacher shortage area shall be as follows:

(a) One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) for the first year of direct care social work;

(b) Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for the second year of direct care social work; and

the third year of direct care social work.

(7) Awards for recipients who have signed a contract to work in a service area that is designated as a geographical critical social worker shortage area shall be as follows:

(a) Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) for the first year of direct care social work;

(b) Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for the second year of direct care social work, provided the recipient continues to work as a direct care social worker in the same service area or another service area designated a geographical shortage area by the State Board of Education; and

(c) Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) for the third year of teaching, provided the recipient continues to teach in the same public school district or another public school district designated a geographical shortage area by the State Board of

Education.

(8) A first-year recipient who moves to another service area shall be eligible to receive an award based on the amount allowed under the program in the new service area where the social worker is employed.

(9) Awards shall be granted on a year-to-year basis, and

recipients shall have no obligation to seek a future award.

(10) Awards shall be paid annually, after the expiration of

the one-year contract for which the award was granted, to the recipient's lender or loan service provider, and shall be applied to the outstanding balance. Monies paid on the recipient's behalf toward qualifying undergraduate or graduate educational loans prior to receiving payment of the award shall not be eligible for repayment through the program.

(11) During the year for which the award is granted, a recipient must at all times keep the State Financial Aid Board informed of any changes to the recipient's current contact information and employment status.

(12) Recipients who fail to maintain a social work license or fail to fulfill the one-year contract on which the award was based shall forfeit any right to the award.

(13) The State Financial Aid Board, in collaboration with the MDCPS, shall track recipients of an award under this program through their fifth social work year, unless the recipient shall leave MDCPS at an earlier date. Data collected shall include recipients undergraduate/graduate institution, service area and any other pertinent information necessary to determine the efficacy of the program in retaining social workers in their first three (3) years after licensure as a social worker.

(14) The State Financial Aid Board shall promulgate regulations necessary for the proper administration of this

section.

(15) This section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2024.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.