Honorable John Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4487 by Smith (Relating to student loan repayment assistance for prosecutors and certain criminal lawyers practicing in rural counties.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the unavailability of data related to the number of eligible attorneys that would receive loan repayment assistance through the program.
The bill would expand eligibility for assistance in the repayment of education loans for certain employed rural attorneys. The program is administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board. The bill amends the definition of a rural county by increasing the population size from 50,000 or less to 100,000 or less. The bill changes eligibility requirements for the program, including establishing repayment thresholds based on years of service. The bill renames the Rural District and County Attorney Student Loan Assistance Trust Fund currently in statute, to the Rural Prosecution and Defense Student Loan Assistance Trust Fund. Funding for the program comes from this trust fund which is outside the treasury and is administered by the Comptroller.
The Higher Education Coordinating Board indicates they do not have sufficient data to estimate how many additional attorneys would be eligible for the program as a result of the legislation.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board