South Carolina S 19: Health care Professional Loan Forgiveness Program

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 19 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 19

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 
11 TO CHAPTER 111, TITLE 59, SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE "HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL 
LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM", TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELIGIBILITY, ADMINISTRATION, AND 
FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM, TO CREATE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND TO DEFINE 
NECESSARY TERMS.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 111, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

Article 11

Health Care Professional Loan Forgiveness

 Section 
59-111-1100. For the purposes of this article:

 (1) 
"Consortium" means the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium.

 (2) 
"Eligible participant" means individual enrolled in the program culminating in 
a degree to practice as a health care professional who:

 (a) 
is free from any judgments arising from federal debt;

 (b) 
does not have any existing service obligations with other entities;

 (c) 
is not in breach of any other health professional service obligation;

 (d) 
is current on any child-support payments;

 (e) 
commits to providing a service obligation in an underserved rural area or an 
urban area with underserved populations for two years at a thirty-six-hour work 
week or four years at less than a thirty-six-hour work week;

 (f) 
after graduation, will hold an unencumbered South Carolina license in his 
respective field;

 (g)(i) has been successfully admitted 
to a South Carolina public university's program to become a health care 
professional; or

 (ii) 
is enrolled in his final year of clinical study in an applicable South Carolina 
program; and

 (iii) 
must have a valid and unencumbered license to practice in his respective 
discipline within two years of graduation as a health care professional in an 
underserved rural area or an urban area with underserved populations.

 (3) 
"Health care professional" means a physician, physician assistant, or advanced 
practice registered nurse practicing as a nurse practitioner or certified nurse 
midwife.

 (4) 
"Program" means the Health Care Professional Loan Forgiveness Program.

 (5) 
"Underserved rural area or an urban area with underserved populations" in this 
State has the same meaning as:

 (a) 
an underserved or rural area as defined by Section 40-33-20; or

 (b) 
a primary care Health Professional Shortage Area or a Medically Underserved 
Area as designated by the United States Department of Health Resources and 
Services Administration.

 Section 
59-111-1110. (A) There is 
established in the State Treasury separate and distinct from the general fund 
of the State and all other funds the "Health Care Professional Loan Forgiveness 
Program." The program shall be administered by the South Carolina Area Health 
Education Consortium for the purpose of reimbursing student loan payments for 
debt incurred during the eligible participant's program enrollment beginning in 
the eligible participant's final year of clinical education. The program must 
award up to thirty thousand dollars total to an eligible participant who is 
accepted into the program, provided that the eligible participant must commit 
to work as a health care professional in an underserved rural area or an urban 
area with underserved populations.

 (B) 
The consortium shall review applications, prescribe the form of applications, 
and establish procedures for reimbursement. The consortium may require such 
information and documentation as it determines appropriate for these 
applications and reimbursements. The consortium shall meet as necessary to 
review program applications and recommend program candidates to the department.

 (C) 
Upon graduation, an eligible participant practicing as a health care 
professional must fulfill all requirements provided in Section 59-111-1100(2) 
to be in compliance with the terms of the loan. The consortium shall monitor 
eligible participants to ensure compliance. If all requirements are met, then 
the full amount of the eligible participant's loan will be forgiven. If 
requirements are not met and the eligible participant defaults on the loan, 
then the eligible participant shall be responsible for the full loan amount 
within one year of default.

 Section 
59-111-1120. (A) The Health Care 
Professional Loan Forgiveness Program Advisory Committee shall assist the 
consortium in developing and establishing policies and procedures for 
administering the program including, but not limited to, the application and 
reimbursement process, and procedures for loan defaults.

 (B) 
The Health Care Professional Loan Forgiveness Program Advisory Committee must 
be composed of:

 (1) 
two licensed physicians appoint