19.1048.01000
Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly HOUSE BILL NO. 1429
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Schreiber-Beck, D. Johnson, Pyle, Sanford
1 A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 15-10-38 of the North Dakota Century Code,
2 relating to the administrative authority for the teacher shortage loan forgiveness program.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
4 SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 15-10-38 of the North Dakota Century Code is
5 amended and reenacted as follows:
6 15-10-38. Loans - Teacher shortages - Loan forgiveness.
7 1. The state board of higher educationsuperintendent of public instruction shall
8 administer a student loan forgiveness program for individuals teaching at grade levels,
9 in content areas, and in geographical locations identified as having a teacher shortage
10 or critical need. The boardsuperintendent may approve loan forgiveness for no more
11 than two teachers per year in a school district. The boardsuperintendent shall adopt
12 rules to implement the program.
13 2. The superintendent of public instruction annually shall identify grade levels, content
14 areas, and geographical locations in which a teacher shortage or critical need exists.
15 3. To be eligible for loan forgiveness under this section, an individual:
16 a. Must have graduated from an accredited teacher preparation program and
17 signed a contract to teach at a grade level or in a content area and in a
18 geographical location identified by the superintendent of public instruction as
19 having an existing teacher shortage or critical need; and
20 b. Must have an existing student loan.
21 4. For purposes of this section, the definitions of rural school district and remote town
22 school district have the same meaning as the definitions under the national center for
23 education statistics locale codes.
Page No. 1 19.1048.01000
Sixty-sixth
Legislative Assembly
1 5. If an individual is receiving loan forgiveness under any other provision, the individual
2 may not receive loan forgiveness under this section during the same application year.
3 6. An eligible individual may receive loan forgiveness under the program as follows:
4 a. If the individual accepts one of up to five positions of critical need in a nonrural
5 school district or nonremote town school district, the individual may receive up to
6 three thousand dollars per year for a maximum of four years.
7 b. If the individual accepts a position in a rural school district or remote town school
8 district with an enrollment of fewer than one thousand students, the individual
9 may receive up to four thousand five hundred dollars per year for a maximum of
10 four years.
11 c. If the individual accepts one of up to five positions of critical need in a rural
12 school district or remote town school district with an enrollment of fewer than one
13 thousand students, the individual may receive up to six thousand five hundred
14 dollars per year for a maximum of four years.
15 7. The superintendent of public instruction shall consider all applications under this
16 section based on the number of unfilled school vacancies, prioritized by critical need
17 and geographic location.
18 8. Upon notification the individual has completed a full year of teaching in a school
19 district, state-supported school, or nonpublic school in this state at a grade level or in a
20 content area and in a geographical location identified by the superintendent of public
21 instruction as one in which a teacher shortage or critical need exists, the
22 boardsuperintendent shall distribute funds directly to the lending institution of the
23 individual to repay outstanding loan principal balances on behalf of eligible applicants.
24 The boardsuperintendent shall terminate loan forgiveness payments to eligible
25 individuals when the loan principal balance of the eligible individual is paid in full.
Page No. 2 19.1048.01000
Statutes affected: INTRODUCED: 15-10-38
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 15-10-38
Adopted by the Senate Education Committee: 15.1-02-04, 15-10-38
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Owens: 15.1-02-04, 15-10-38
Enrollment: 15.1-02-04, 15-10-38