AB 1096

This bill creates a student loan repayment program for volunteer emergency

service providers to be administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board. A

volunteer emergency service provider is defined in the bill as an individual who is

a Wisconsin resident and who actively provides service in this state as a volunteer

emergency medical responder, volunteer emergency medical services practitioner, or

volunteer fire fighter. To be eligible for financial assistance under the program, the

volunteer emergency service provider must 1) complete a two-year probationary

period in this state after enrollment in the program; 2) serve as a volunteer

emergency service provider, in the year in which financial assistance is provided, in

an area in which there is an extremely high need for volunteer emergency services;

and 3) have an outstanding educational loan balance. The bill defines “area in which

there is an extremely high need for volunteer emergency services” as a county in this

state that has a population of 35,000 or less. An eligible volunteer emergency service

provider may receive up to $24,000 paid over six years in student loan relief while

the individual continues to be a volunteer emergency service provider.