The proposed bill aims to revise the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program in Montana by expanding eligibility to include all newly hired quality educators in public schools. A key feature of the bill is that it prioritizes loan assistance payments for newly hired quality educators working in impacted schools, which are defined as schools facing critical educator shortages. The bill also establishes a process for prorating loan assistance payments if the available funding is insufficient to cover all eligible educators, ensuring that those in impacted schools receive priority.

Amendments to existing law include the removal of the requirement that quality educators must be working specifically at impacted schools to qualify for loan repayment assistance. Instead, all newly hired quality educators will be eligible, with a focus on those in impacted schools. The bill also clarifies the proration process for loan assistance payments, ensuring that if funds are limited, priority is given to educators in impacted schools before any remaining funds are allocated to those in non-impacted schools. The effective date for the bill is set for July 1, 2025, and it will apply to applications submitted on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_1(1): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_1(2): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_1(3): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_1(4): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_1(5): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_1(6): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_1: 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_X(1): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_X(2): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_X(3): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_X(4): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_X(5): 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505
HB0509_X: 20-4-503, 20-4-504, 20-4-505