|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT:
Carolyn E. Touma |
State Rep. Thomas C.
Petrone
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Petrone re-introduces MH/MR loan forgiveness bill
HARRISBURG, Jan. 14 – State Rep. Thomas Petrone, D-Allegheny, this week reintroduced legislation that would offer loan forgiveness to college students pursuing careers in the mental health/mental retardation or alcohol and drug treatment fields.
“For over 10 years I have campaigned for this program, and in last year’s session, this legislation received outstanding support from various groups across the state,” Petrone said. “This year, we’ve made an addition to the bill so that alcohol and drug addiction counselors would also be eligible for the loan forgiveness.”
The legislation (H.B. 49) would create a Mental Health and Mental Retardation Staff Member Loan Forgiveness Program within the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
Petrone said people who have successfully completed the first six months of full-time employment and remain in good standing as a staff member at a county mental health or mental retardation service agency, a contracted private provider, or a counselor at a licensed alcohol and drug addiction treatment facility would be eligible to have up to $20,000 of their college student loans forgiven.
“The mental health and retardation fields along with alcohol and drug treatment professions are very grueling to pursue,” Petrone said. “Friends and family members of people suffering from these afflictions put their faith and trust in the hands of trained supervisors, coordinators and counselors. This legislation is a way of thanking those who are on the front lines working with patients, friends and families to facilitate a better quality of life.”
Petrone said only PHEAA-administered loans would be forgiven over four years of full-time staff work, with no more than $5,000 being forgiven each year. Applicants would be required to have a two- or four-year academic degree or diploma.
“I believe that providing loan forgiveness for qualified candidates will serve as an incentive for some staff members to continue in these professions and to encourage others to take up the career,” he said.
###cet/2005/agh
l:\writers\releases\mhmr.027