Existing law requires the State Treasurer to perform certain duties relating to the financing of higher education, including designating a Student Loan Ombudsman and administering the Nevada College Savings Trust Fund and the Millennium Scholarship Trust Fund. (NRS 226.400, 226.560, 353B.320, 353B.350, 396.926) Section 6 of this bill creates the Student Loan Repayment for Providers of Health Care in Underserved Communities Program to repay the student education loans of qualified providers of health care who work in certain underserved communities. Section 6 requires the State Treasurer to ensure that at least 15 percent of the money available for the Program in any year is used to repay the student education loans of providers of health care who commit to practicing in a county whose population is less than 100,000 (currently all counties other than Clark and Washoe Counties). With regard to other money available for the Program, section 6 requires the State Treasurer to prioritize certain providers of health care when awarding repayment of student education loans under the Program. Section 8 of this bill requires the State Treasurer to adopt regulations prescribing: (1) the procedure the State Treasurer will use to repay the student education loans pursuant to section 6; and (2) the manner in which such prioritization will be implemented. Section 7 of this bill prescribes the requirements for a provider of health care to be eligible for repayment of student education loans under the Program. Section 8 requires the State Treasurer to adopt regulations to prescribe certain procedures and standards relating to the Program, including: (1) the procedure to apply for repayment of student education loans under the Program; (2) any additional standards for eligibility to receive repayment of student education loans under the Program; and (3) a methodology for determining the amount of repayment of a student education loan that a provider of health care may receive. Section 8 also authorizes the State Treasurer to adopt any other regulations necessary to carry out the Program. Sections 2-5 of this bill define certain terms related to the Program. Sections 8 and 13 of this bill provide for the confidentiality of applications to receive repayment of student education loans under the Program and the personally identifiable information of applicants. Section 9 of this bill: (1) authorizes the State Treasurer to employ the necessary staff to administer the Program; and (2) requires the State Treasurer to post certain information about the Program on an Internet website. Section 11 of this bill requires the Student Loan Ombudsman to assist certain student loan borrowers to become aware of, qualify for and apply for the Program. Section 10 of this bill creates the Account for Student Loan Repayment for Providers of Health Care in Underserved Communities in the State General Fund to fund the Program. Section 12 of this bill requires the State Treasurer to transfer certain money from the Abandoned Property Trust Account to the Account for Student Loan Repayment for Providers of Health Care in Underserved Communities. Existing law authorizes the University of Nevada School of Medicine to establish a Nevada Health Service Corps to encourage practitioners to practice in areas of Nevada in which a shortage of that type of practitioner exists. (NRS 396.900) Existing law authorizes the School of Medicine to authorize the Corps to administer a program under which money for loans is repaid on behalf of practitioners who practice in such areas. (NRS 396.903) Existing law authorizes the School of Medicine to apply for matching money available for the program from the Federal Government. (NRS 396.902) Section 12 requires the State Treasurer to transfer certain money from the Abandoned Property Trust Account to the School of Medicine for the purpose of obtaining such federal matching money.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 226.570, 120A.620, 239.010
Reprint 1: 226.570, 120A.620, 239.010
Reprint 2: 226.570, 120A.620, 239.010
As Enrolled: 226.570, 120A.620, 239.010
BDR: 226.570, 120A.620, 239.010