Nebraska LB 312: Change and eliminate revenue and taxation provisions

Bill Text

LEGISLATIVE BILL 312
Approved by the Governor April 7, 2025

Introduced by Strommen, 47; Ballard, 21; Clouse, 37; DeBoer, 10; DeKay, 40;
Dorn, 30; Guereca, 7; Hallstrom, 1; Holdcroft, 36; Ibach, 44;
Jacobson, 42; Kauth, 31; Lippincott, 34; Lonowski, 33; McKeon,
41; Meyer, 17; Murman, 38; Sanders, 45; Storer, 43; Storm, 23.

A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to the Rural Health Systems and Professional
Incentive Act; to amend sections 71-5662, 71-5663, 71-5665, and 71-5668,
Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024; to provide for student loans
to certain students and loan repayments for nurse anesthetists and
dietitian nutritionists under the Rural Health Systems and Professional
Incentive Act; to harmonize provisions; and to repeal the original
sections.
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
Section 1. Section 71-5662, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024,
is amended to read:
71-5662 (1) To be eligible for a student loan under the Rural Health
Systems and Professional Incentive Act, an applicant or a recipient shall be
enrolled or accepted for enrollment in any of the following an accredited
programs in Nebraska:
(a) Medical medical or dental education program;
(b) Physician or physician assistant education program;
(c) Nurse anesthesia practice program; or
(d) Dietitian nutritionist program; or
(e) Approved an approved mental health practice program in Nebraska.
(2) To be eligible for the medical resident incentive under the act, an
applicant or a recipient shall be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an
approved medical specialty residency program in Nebraska.
(3) To be eligible for loan repayment under the act, an applicant or a
recipient shall:
(a) Be one of the following: be
(i) A a pharmacist; ,
(ii) A a dentist; ,
(iii) A a physical therapist; ,
(iv) An an occupational therapist; ,
(v) A a mental health practitioner; ,
(vi) A a psychologist licensed under the requirements of section 38-3114
or the equivalent thereof; ,
(vii) A a nurse practitioner; ,
(viii) A nurse anesthetist;
(ix) A a physician assistant; ,
(x) A dietitian nutritionist licensed under section 38-1813;
(xi) A a psychiatrist; , or
(xii) A a physician in an approved specialty; and
(b) Be shall be licensed to practice in Nebraska; ,
(c) Not not be enrolled in a residency program; ,
(d) Not not be practicing under a provisional or temporary license; , and
(e) Enter enter practice in a designated health profession shortage area
in Nebraska.
Sec. 2. Section 71-5663, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024, is
amended to read:
71-5663 (1) The amount of financial assistance provided through student
loans pursuant to the Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act shall
be limited to thirty thousand dollars for each recipient for each academic year
and, except as provided in subdivision (4)(a) of this section, shall not exceed
one hundred twenty thousand dollars per medical, dental, or doctorate-level
mental health student or thirty thousand dollars per master's level mental
health or physician assistant student.
(2) The amount of financial assistance provided through the medical
resident incentive program pursuant to the act shall be limited to forty
thousand dollars for each recipient for each year of residency and, except as
provided in subdivision (4)(b) of this section, shall not exceed one hundred
twenty thousand dollars.
(3) The amount of financial assistance provided by the state through loan
repayments pursuant to the act (a) for physicians, psychiatrists, dentists, and
psychologists shall be limited to thirty thousand dollars per recipient per
year of full-time practice in a designated health profession shortage area and,
except as provided in subdivision (4)(c) of this section, shall not exceed
ninety thousand dollars per recipient and (b) for physician assistants, nurse
practitioners, nurse anesthetists, pharmacists, physical therapists,
occupational therapists, dietitian nutritionists, and mental health
practitioners shall be limited to fifteen thousand dollars per recipient per
year of full-time practice in a designated health profession shortage area and,
except as provided in subdivision (4)(c) of this section, shall not exceed
forty-five thousand dollars per recipient.
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LB312
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(4)(a) The total amount of financial assistance provided through student
loans for a doctorate-level mental health student or master's level mental
health student shall be the full amount of such loans for a person who
practices psychiatry, psychology, or mental health practice:
(i) For at least five years in a designated health profession shortage
area; and
(ii) If all or a majority of such practice consists of the treatment of
members of the community supervision population.
(b) The total amount of financial assistance provided through the medical
resident incentive program for a psychiatrist shall be the full amount of such
psychiatrist's qualified educational debts if such person practices psyc