This bill establishes the New Hampshire State Trooper Retention School Loan Debt Relief Program, aimed at addressing the shortage of state troopers in New Hampshire. The program will provide financial incentives in the form of student loan repayment assistance to new state troopers who are hired on or after July 1, 2025, and who have at least $10,000 in student loan debt. Eligible applicants will receive a disbursement of $10,000 towards their student loan principal for each of their first five years of employment, up to a maximum of $40,000, as long as they maintain their employment and student loan debt. The program will be administered by the Department of Safety, Division of State Police, and a dedicated fund will be established to support it.

Additionally, the bill includes an appropriation of $1 to the Department of Safety for the state trooper retention school loan debt relief fund, which will be used to administer the program and provide loan repayment assistance. The fund will also accept grants and donations to support its purpose. The bill mandates that the commissioner adopt rules regarding program administration, including eligibility criteria and application procedures. The effective date for the program is set for July 1, 2025. The fiscal impact of the bill is currently indeterminate, with estimated costs for the program ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 over the first five years, depending on the number of eligible state troopers with student loan debt.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6:12
As Amended by the Senate: 6:12