2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
January 22, 2016 - Introduced by Representatives Quinn, E. Brooks, Tranel,
Ballweg, Bernier, Czaja, Edming, Kitchens, Krug, Kulp, T. Larson, Mursau,
Murtha, Nerison, Novak, Petryk, Ripp, Spiros, Swearingen, Tauchen,
VanderMeer, Kremer, Jarchow, Macco, A. Ott, Skowronski and Vorpagel,
cosponsored by Senators Darling and Tiffany. Referred to Committee on
Mining and Rural Development.
AB793,1,3 1An Act to renumber 39.399 (1); to amend 39.399 (2), 39.399 (3) (a), 39.399 (3)
2(b) 1. and 39.399 (4); and to create 39.399 (1g) of the statutes; relating to: the
3teacher loan program.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill modifies the teacher loan program to provide for loan forgiveness to
certain teachers employed in school districts in rural counties.
Under current law, the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) administers a
teacher loan program for students who meet certain eligibility criteria, including
enrollment in a program of study leading to a teacher's license in a teacher shortage
field. Under the program, HEAB may award, to an eligible student, a loan of up to
$10,000 annually for up to three years. HEAB must forgive 25 percent of the loan
for each school year that the loan recipient 1) is employed in the city of Milwaukee
as a full-time elementary or secondary school teacher in a high-demand, teacher
shortage field; and 2) receives a teacher rating of proficient or distinguished.
This bill provides for loan forgiveness under the teacher loan program for
teachers employed in school districts in rural counties, not only for those employed
in the city of Milwaukee.
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:
AB793,1
1Section 1. 39.399 (1) of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is
2renumbered 39.399 (1m).
AB793,2 3Section 2. 39.399 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB793,2,44 39.399 (1g) In this section:
AB793,2,55 (a) "Rural county" means a county that satisfies all of the following:
AB793,2,66 1. The county does not include any urbanized area.
AB793,2,87 2. Less than 25 percent of persons residing in the county are employed in
8another county that includes an urbanized area.
AB793,2,109 3. Less than 25 percent of persons employed in the county reside in another
10county that includes an urbanized area.
AB793,2,1111 (b) "Urbanized area" has the meaning given in 23 USC 134 (b) (7).
AB793,3 12Section 3. 39.399 (2) of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is
13amended to read:
AB793,2,1614 39.399 (2) A student eligible for a loan under sub. (1) (1m) may be awarded
15loans of up to $10,000 annually for not more than 3 years, with a maximum of $30,000
16in loans to a student under this section.
AB793,4 17Section 4. 39.399 (3) (a) of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55,
18is amended to read:
AB793,2,2119 39.399 (3) (a) Loans under sub. (1) (1m) shall be made from the appropriation
20under s. 20.235 (1) (ct). Except as provided in par. (b), loans under sub. (1) (1m) shall
21be repaid at an annual interest rate of 5 percent.
AB793,5 22Section 5. 39.399 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act
2355
, is amended to read:
AB793,3,324 39.399 (3) (b) 1. The recipient is employed by a public or private elementary
25or secondary school in the city of Milwaukee
, as a full-time teacher in a high-demand

1area related to the recipient's discipline under sub. (1) (1m) (b), by a public or private
2elementary or secondary school in the city of Milwaukee or in a school district in a
3rural county
.
AB793,6 4Section 6. 39.399 (4) of the statutes, as created by 2015 Wisconsin Act 55, is
5amended to read:
AB793,3,86 39.399 (4) The board shall deposit in the general fund as general purpose
7revenue-earned all repayments of loans made under sub. (1) (1m) and the interest
8on the loans.
AB793,7 9Section 7. Initial applicability.
AB793,3,1210 (1) This act first applies to recipients of loans under section 39.999 of the
11statutes whose employment as a full-time teacher first commences on the effective
12date of this subsection.
AB793,3,1313 (End)
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