An Act To Authorize the Social Work Education Loan Repayment Program
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0711
Committee Amendment CA_A_H218 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/1,, to H.P. 494, L.D. 711, Bill, "An Act To 
Authorize the Social Work Education Loan Repayment Program" 
Amend the bill in section I in § I 038 in subsection 3 by striking out all of paragraphs 
S to D (page I, lines 17 to 22 in L.D.) and inseliing the following: 
'S.Have completed .a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in social work from an 
accredited school of social work within 3 years prior to the date the applicant's 
appl ication is received by the authority; 
C. Possess an outstanding education loan relating to the degree; 
D. Practice in an underserved practice area, including but not limited to the practice 
of social work: 
(1) In a public or private child welfare or family service agency; 
(2) In a public interest law service; 
(3) In a public child care facility; 
(4) In a public service for ind ividuals with disabil ities; 
(5) In a public service for the elderly; 
(6) In a public service for veterans; or 
(7) At an organization exempt from taxation under the Unites States Internal 
Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3). 
Priority consideration must be given to social workers practlclllg in a public or 
private child welfare or family service agency, in a public service for the elderly or in 
a public service for individuals with disabilities; 
E. Submit an application to the authority, which must include but is not limited to 
information concerning academic performance, awards and special honors and 
community involvement; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ~"IO H.P. 494. L.D. 711 
F. Have signed a statement of intent in a form acceptable to the authority to work as 
a social worker in the State for a minimum of 3 years after acceptance into the 
program.' 
Amend the bill in section I in § 1038 in subsection 4 by striking out all of paragraph 
A (page I, lines 26 to 31 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'A. The authority may receive, invest and expend on behalf of the fund money from 
gifts. grants, bequests and donations in addition to money appropriated or allocated 
by the State and any federal funds received by the State for the benefit of social 
workers who have outstanding education loans. Money received by the authority on 
behalf of the fund must be used for the purposes of this subchapter. The fund must 
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be maintained and administered by the authority. Any unexpended balance in the 
fund carries forward for continued use under this subchapter.' 
Amend the bill in section I in § I 038 in subsection 5 in the 2nd and 3rd lines (page I, 
line 35 and page 2, line I in L.D.) by striking out all of the 2nd sentence and inseliing the 
following: 'The authority shall repay the loans of up to 3 applicants each year who meet 
the criteria in subsection 3 in the amount of up to $5,000 for each applicant.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment amends the criteria that apply to social workers who may be eligible 
for the Social Work Education Loan Repayment Program. The amendment also strikes 
the provision in the bill that authorized the Finance Authority of Maine to borrow money 
on behalf of the program and clarifies that the Finance Authority of Maine is authorized 
to receive, invest and expend any federal funds received by the State for the benefit of 
social workers who have outstanding education loans. 
)FISCAL :'.'OTE RFQURED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 04/29/09 Mac!. 
LD 711 
LR 1238(02) 
An Act To Authorize the Social Work Education Loan Repayment Program 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "Q" 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Undetermined current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill establishes the Social Work Education Loan Repayment Program to be administered by the Finance 
Authority of Maine and creates a nonlapsing, interest-earning, revolving fund which is authorized to receive money 
from gifts, grants, bequests and donations in addition to money appropriated or allocated by the State and any federal 
funds received by the State in order to carry out the purposes of the program. The bill also allows the administrative 
costs incurred by the Authority to be paid out of the revolving fund. However, this legislation does not identify a 
source of funding for the program so it is not clear whether there are funds available from these sources to capitalize 
the fund or to provide ongoing supp0\1 for the program. The Finance Authority of Maine has estimated the cost to 
establish and administer the program to be $21,300 in fiscal 2009-10 and $5,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 
2010-11 for the ongoing administrative costs. The cost of the loan repayment program can not be determined at this 
time and will depend on the number of qualified applicants and the loan repayment amount per applicant in the pro gran 
LR1238(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1