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23LSO-0614
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0614
Numbered
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0167
Wyoming teacher shortage loan repayment program.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Henderson, Berger, Brown, Niemiec, Northrup, Zwonitzer, Dn and Zwonitzer, Dv and Senator(s) Baldwin, Brennan, Pappas and Schuler
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to education; reauthorizing the Wyoming teacher shortage loan repayment program; modifying eligibility requirements; making conforming amendments; appropriating funds; repealing a provision; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
W.S. 21
‑
7
‑
601(b)(i)(A), (B), (e), (n) and (p)(intro) is amended to read:
21
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7
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601.
Wyoming teacher shortage loan repayment program; eligibility criteria; procedures; program reporting.
(b)
To qualify for a loan under this section, the applicant shall first:
(i)
Be enrolled in good standing in a teacher education program at the University of Wyoming leading to:
(A)
Certification as a
special education, math, science or world language
teacher; or
(B)
Eligibility for an additional endorsement
.
to teach reading or English as a second language.
(e)
A recipient of a loan under this section may repay the loan without cash payment by teaching at least fifty percent (50%) of his working hours
as a teacher in special education, math, science, world language, reading or English as a second language
as a certified teacher in a Wyoming public school as provided in subsection (f) of this section. To qualify as repayment under this subsection, work shall be performed within the minimum amount of time necessary to repay the loan, plus two (2) years, which shall begin with the calendar month following the month in which the student completed the academic program.
(n)
The community college commission shall annually review the loan program established under this section and report to the governor and the legislature in accordance with W.S. 9
‑
2
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1014, regarding program results, funds received and loans issued during the preceding academic year, together with the status of all outstanding loan commitments and repayments under the program.
The report required under this subsection shall include information submitted by the professional teaching standards board regarding the impact of the program on
identified
teacher
shortage areas
shortages
and recommendations for modifications to the program, including funding levels, to address
other identified
teacher shortage
in targeted
areas.
(p)
Notwithstanding
subsection (o)
any other provision
of
this section
the law
:
Section 2
.
W.S. 21
‑
7
‑
601(o) is repealed.
Section 3.
(a)
There is appropriated five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) from the legislative stabilization reserve account to the Wyoming community college commission for the period beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024.
This appropriation shall be used for the loan program established by W.S. 21
‑
7
‑
601, as amended by this act, and as authorized by subsection (b) of this section. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2024. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation be included in the standard budget for the commission for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.
(b)
Not more than five percent (5%) of the amount appropriated under this section shall be used by the Wyoming community college commission for the administration of this program, including expenses of the commission and loan administration fees.
Section 4.
This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.
(END)
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HB0167