HB 1234 -- NURSING STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

SPONSOR:  Loehner

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Special
Committee on Student Achievement and Finance by a vote of 8 to 0.

This bill changes two provisions of the Nursing Student Loan
Repayment Program.  "Eligible student" is redefined as a person
who has been accepted as a full-time nursing student, rather than
a person who has applied for admission.  Currently, 25% of the
loan is forgiven for each year of employment; the bill revises
the repayment provision to permit forgiveness through employment
without mention of a specific schedule.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that these two changes should help
reduce the default rate and make the loan more like the Primary
Care Resource Initiative for Missouri (PRIMO) loan which is
available to other medical professionals.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Loehner; Department
of Health and Senior Services; Missouri Nurses Association; and
Allison Norwood.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am