HB1256: HB1256 Georgia Appreciation for Educators Act; enact

26 LC 61 0361 House Bill 1256 By: Representatives Berry of the 56th, Herring of the 145th, McQueen of the 61st, Park of the 107th, Burnough of the 77th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Of ficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to the Georgia Student Finance Authority, so as to provide for student2 loan repayment for public school teachers who graduated from an eligible postsecondary3 educational institution in Georgia and who have taught for at l east five years in a public4 school in this state; to provide for definitions; to provide for eligibility; to provide for student5 loan repayment agreements and conditions; to provide for maximum student loan repayment6 amounts; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for an appropriations contingency;7 to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other8 purposes.9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10 SECTION 1.11 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Appreciation for Educators Act."12 H. B. 1256 - 1 - 26 LC 61 0361 SECTION 2.13 Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,14 relating to the Georgia Student Finance Authority, is amended by adding a new subpart to15 read as follows:16 "Subpart 7D17 20-3-467.18 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:19 (1) 'Eligible applicant' means a person who:20 (A) Is a legal resident of the State of Georgia;21 (B) Graduated from an eligible postsecondary institution; and22 (C) Is currently employed as a teacher in a public school in this state and has been so23 employed for at least five years.24 (2) 'Eligible postsecondary institution' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code25 Section 20-3-519.26 (3) 'Recipient' means an eligible applicant who applied for an d was approved by the27 authority for student loan repayment under this Code section.28 (4) 'Student loan' means debt incurred by a recipient that is:29 (A) Evidenced by a promissory note which required the funds received to be used to30 pay for the cost of attendance for a course of study of the recipient;31 (B) Not in default at the time of application for repayment under this Code section; and32 (C) Not subject to an existing service obligation or to repaym ent through another33 student loan repayment or loan forgiveness program or to repayment as a condition of34 employment.35 (5) 'Teacher' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 20-2-942.36 H. B. 1256 - 2 - 26 LC 61 0361 (b) The authority is authorized to approve the applications of eligible applicants in37 accordance with rules and regulations established by the authority governing the student38 loan repayment process.39 (c) The authority is authorized to provide for the repayment o f student loans held by a40 recipient in consideration of the recipient performing services in the form of teaching in a41 public school in this state for not less than five years.42 (d)(1) Each recipient, before being granted any student loan repayment, shall enter into43 a student loan repayment agreement with the authority agreeing to the terms and44 conditions upon which the student loan repayment is granted, including such terms and45 conditions set forth in this Code section.46 (2) The authority shall have the power to terminate a student loan repayment agreement47 at any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the authority, provided that such power48 shall not be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised.49 (e) Each student loan repayment agreement entered into with the authority pursuant to this50 Code section shall be signed by the director of the authority and by the recipient and shall:51 (1) Provide for repayment of the recipient's student loans in a total amount as the52 authority shall determine based on available appropriations, but not exceeding the total53 student loan debt of the recipient, to be paid out over a term of not more than five years54 in installments made on an annual basis;55 (2) Provide that any payment made by the authority under a stu dent loan repayment56 agreement shall be made in consideration of services rendered b y the recipient as a57 teacher in a public school in this state; and58 (3) Require that the recipient remain a legal resident of this state as established by rules59 and regulations of the authority and be employed as a teacher in a public school in this60 state at all times during the term of the agreement.61 (f) The authority shall adopt such rules and regulations as are reasonable and necessary to62 implement the provisions of this Code section.63 H. B. 1256 - 3 - 26 LC 61 0361 (g) Student loan repayment for recipients having entered into a student loan repayment64 agreement with the authority pursuant to this Code section shal l be contingent upon the65 appropriation of funds by the General Assembly for the purposes of this Code section in66 annual appropriations Acts of the General Assembly."67 SECTION 3.68 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.69 H. B. 1256 - 4 -