P1 1WHEREAS, The State of California is committed to improving
2the affordability and accessibility of the state’s higher education
3systems, thus preserving the opportunity for Californians to receive
4a world-class public education; and
5WHEREAS, This commitment was demonstrated by the
6inclusion of the Middle Class Scholarship Act (MCSA) in the
72013-14 Budget Act, which will reduce fees at the University of
8California and California State University by up to 40 percent for
9middle class families; and
10WHEREAS, The success of California’s community college
11and university systems is essential to educating and training the
12workforce needed to continue the recovery and growth of the
13world’s eighth largest economy and for the businesses in our state
14to compete and innovate in a global, 21st century economy; and
15WHEREAS, The Assembly celebrates the importance of public
16service and its value to our society, and is dedicated to ensuring
17that the desire to contribute to public service is not forgone because
18of financial limitations brought about by student loan debt; and
19WHEREAS, California is home to the largest body of public
20employees in the country that serves a growing population of 38
21million; therefore, California has the greatest potential to encourage
22participation in, and benefit from, programs attracting educated
23and talented individuals who want to enter public service; and
P2 1WHEREAS, California state government administers successful
2student debt relief programs such as the Assumption Program of
3Loans for Education for teachers, the State Nursing Assumption
4Program of Loans for Education for nurses, the Steven M.
5Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program, and
6partnerships with AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps; and
7WHEREAS, The United States Department of Education created
8its Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program in 2007 with
9the goal of helping those burdened by student loan debt that have
10dedicated their careers to various areas of public service; and
11WHEREAS, The PSLF Program offers full student loan
12forgiveness upon fulfillment of a 10-year Repayment Plan or
13completion of 120 regular payments through its Direct Loan
14Program, which offers both Income-Based Repayment and
15Income-Contingent Repayment options that are beneficial to
16employees with a wide range of salaries; and
17WHEREAS, The PSLF Program stands to benefit many
18California public employees in fields such as K-12 education,
19health care, law enforcement, military service, emergency
20management, public safety, human services, and library services,
21among others; and
22WHEREAS, This federal loan forgiveness program incentivizes
23college attendance, increases college affordability, and builds
24partnerships between California universities and public institutions;
25and
26WHEREAS, This resolution reaffirms California’s commitment
27to maintaining college affordability and accessibility as well as
28public service; now, therefore, be it
29Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
30Assembly encourages public employers to take full advantage of
31the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and other available
32programs that are intended to help college graduates that have
33incurred student loan debt in their pursuit of a degree; and be it
34further
35Resolved, That the Assembly intends to add its support to the
36Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program by offering relevant
37information to all new and current employees; and be it further
38Resolved, That the Assembly seek opportunities to promote
39policies that will provide more loan repayment options to graduates
40burdened by student loan debt, so that they can gain meaningful
P3 1employment that enhances their individual financial stability as
2well as benefits the state as a whole; and be it further
3Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
4of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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