Creating a student loan repayment program for volunteer emergency service providers administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

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.

Who's behind it

4 senators are its authors⁠. All 4 are Democrats.

13 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From HEAB