An act relative to a loan repayment program for human service workers

Bill No.

Bill Sponsor

Sen. Sal DiDomenico and Rep. Jeffrey Roy

Bill Status

Referred to Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. A hearing took place on May 13, where The Caring Force testified ahead of the committee in favor of the bill. The bill awaits decision and reporting.

Purpose of the Bill

This bill would provide student loan repayment to human services workers who provide essential services to hundreds of thousands of people across the Commonwealth. To be eligible, workers must be working at least 35 hours per week and have maintained 12 consecutive months of employment in the sector. Applicants would be eligible for up to $6,000 to repay their qualified education loans if they have an associate degree, up to $20,000 if they have a bachelor’s degree and up to $30,000 if they have a master’s degree.

Key Facts:

Direct Care I workers’ salaries are benchmarked to $20.79 an hour. MIT Living Wage calculator puts that figure for a single person with no children in Massachusetts at nearly $28 an hour.
The lack of affordable higher education for human services workers and the burden of student debt greatly contribute to the sector’s recruitment and retention difficulties.
As of the first half of 2024, the average student loan balance in Massachusetts increased by $2,332 from the end of 2023, reaching $39,906.
In 2024, Massachusetts residents had a median monthly student loan payment of $226, the second highest in the nation.
Approximately 70% of human service workers have attended some college or have a degree.
The one-time ARPA-funded student loan repayment program, launched in 2024, received requests totaling more than three times its $16.5 million allocation.

If passed, this legislation would:

Amend Section 16 of Chapter 6A to create a student loan repayment program for human service workers who have maintained 12 consecutive months of employment in their roles at a minimum of 35 hours per week and hold degrees or certificates.
Priority for funding will be given to applicants with at least three years of human services experience, those working in Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts (AHEM) communities, individuals earning less than $60,000 annually, and those who provide care in a non-English language needed at their workplace.
Help organizations recruit retain human services workers by having the state repay qualified education loans. Applicants would be eligible for up to $6,000, $20,000 or $30,000 depending on their degree or certificate.
Applicants must agree to a service commitment in an eligible setting: 1 year for an associate degree, 2 years for a bachelor’s degree, and 3 years for a master’s degree.
Make payments directly to the lender and only during months the participant is working 35+ hours per week as a human services worker in Massachusetts.
Pay back qualified education loans, meaning any indebtedness – including interest –incurred by applicants in the pursuit of a certificate or degree.
Direct EOHHS to administer the program in accordance with DOE guidelines.

For more information: Email Caroline O’Neill or call 508.598.9686.