Senate Bill 2174

AN ACT TO CODIFY SECTION 37-143-12, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS MASTER'S DEGREE LOAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WORKING IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 37-143-12, Mississippi Code of 1972:

37-143-12. Speech-Language Pathologists Loan Forgiveness Program. (1) There is established a Speech-Language Pathologists Loan Forgiveness Program. It is the intent of the Legislature that persons declaring an intention to work in an accredited public school (K-12) located in the State of Mississippi as a speech-language pathologist shall be eligible for a loan for the purpose of acquiring a master's level education in such profession. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall enter into contracts with applicants, providing that such loans may be discharged by working as a master's level speech-language pathologist in an accredited public school (K-12) located in the State of Mississippi, for a period of time after graduation equal to the period of study provided under the loan. Such contracts shall provide that for each year of service, the appropriate portion of the outstanding balance of principal and interest of such loan shall be converted to interest-free scholarships and discharged.

(2) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, with the concurrence of the State Board of Education, shall jointly establish rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and intent of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.