February 25, 1998 - Introduced by Representatives Bock, Notestein, Handrick,
Staskunas, Turner, R. Young, L. Young, R. Potter, Baldwin, La Fave and
Springer, cosponsored by Senators Burke, Plache, Risser and Darling.
Referred to Committee on Colleges and Universities.
AB828,1,3
1An Act to create 20.235 (1) (cw) and 39.385 of the statutes;
relating to: the child
2care worker loan repayment assistance program, granting rule-making
3authority and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates a child care worker loan repayment assistance program to be
administered by the higher educational aids board (HEAB). Under the program, a
child care worker is initially reimbursed by HEAB for 10% of the outstanding
principal amount of educational loans of the child care worker or $1,000, whichever
is less, if all of the following apply:
1. The child care worker has been continuously employed full time in this state
as a child care worker for not less than 12 months.
2. The child care worker graduated on or after May 1, 1997, with a degree in
an area relating to early childhood education.
3. The child care worker is currently in repayment on any educational loan and
is not in default on repayment.
After initial reimbursement under the program, a child care worker is eligible
for additional loan repayment assistance payments from HEAB, up to a maximum
of 4 additional reimbursements, in the same manner as initial reimbursement under
the program.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB828, s. 1
1Section
1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
-
See PDF for table 
AB828, s. 2
3Section
2. 20.235 (1) (cw) of the statutes is created to read:
AB828,2,64
20.235
(1) (cw)
Child care worker loan repayment assistance program. 5Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for the child care worker loan repayment
6assistance program for private institutions under s. 39.385.
AB828, s. 3
7Section
3. 39.385 of the statutes is created to read:
AB828,2,10
839.385 Child care worker loan repayment assistance program. (1) 9There is established, to be administered by the board, a loan repayment assistance
10program for resident child care workers who meet all of the following requirements:
AB828,2,1411
(a) Have graduated on or after May 1, 1997, with a bachelor's degree from an
12institution of higher education, as defined in s. 39.32 (1) (a), located in this state or
13a degree under an associate degree program, as defined in s. 38.01 (1), in an area
14relating to early childhood education.
AB828,3,2
1(b) Are currently in loan repayment on any student loan, which loan repayment
2status is not in default, as determined by the applicable lender.
AB828,3,43
(c) Have been continuously employed on a full-time basis in this state for at
4least 12 months as a child care worker.
AB828,3,5
5(2) The board shall:
AB828,3,136
(a) Reimburse a child care worker for 10% of the outstanding principal amount
7of any student loans of the child care worker or $1,000, whichever is less, for the
812-month period of eligibility under sub. (1). As a condition of eligibility for loan
9repayment assistance under this paragraph, the child care worker shall submit to
10the board, on a form prescribed by the board, a statement certified by the lender of
11an applicable student loan, within 30 days previous to the filing of the submission,
12that the loan repayment status of the borrower is not in default and the outstanding
13principal amount of the applicable student loan.
AB828,3,1614
(b) For each succeeding 12-month period of eligibility under sub. (1), reimburse
15the child care worker as determined under par. (a). No child care worker is eligible
16for more than 5 loan repayment assistance payments under this section.
AB828,3,1817
(c) Make the loan repayment assistance payments under pars. (a) and (b) from
18the appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (cw), subject to the availability of funds.
AB828,3,2419
(d) Promulgate rules to implement and administer this section, including rules
20establishing the criteria and procedures for loan repayment assistance and, after
21first consulting with the department of health and family services, defining "child
22care worker" for the purposes of this section. The definition of "child care worker"
23shall include any child care position specified in rules of the department of health and
24family services relating to day care and family day care centers for children.
