Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Access to Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID–19 Pandemic Act”.
Protecting Access to Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID–19 Pandemic Act
A BILL
To provide for student loan forgiveness for public service workers whose employment may have been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic.
Sec. 2 Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Definitions— In this section:
Employment disruption— The term employment disruption means a lapse in an individual's employment that is related to the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID–19), such as a furlough or reduction in force by the employer or the individual's resignation due to illness or family caregiving responsibilities.
Public service job— The term public service job has the meaning given the term in section 455(m)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)(3)).
Qualifying emergency— The term qualifying emergency has the meaning given the term in section 3502 of division A of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116–136).
Qualifying individual— The term qualifying individual means an individual who—
has a loan that qualifies for public service loan forgiveness under section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)); and
during the qualifying emergency period—
was employed in a public service job; and
experiences an employment disruption with respect to the public service job and no longer is employed in a public service job.
In general— Subject to subsection (c), during the qualifying emergency, a monthly payment made by a qualifying individual pursuant to a repayment plan listed in section 455(m)(1)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)(1)(A)) (including a payment deemed under section 3513(c) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116–136) to have been made pursuant to such a repayment plan) shall be deemed to be a monthly payment made by an individual employed in a public service job for purposes of the public service loan forgiveness program under section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)).
Special rule— Subsection (b) shall only apply to a qualifying individual who resumes employment in any public service job by the date that is 6 months after the last day of the qualifying emergency, except that any qualifying individual who, as a result of the application of subsection (b), would have completed the requirements for loan cancellation under section 455(m)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)(2)) during the qualifying emergency, shall receive such loan cancellation without any required resumption of public service job employment.
Guidance— Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall develop and make available guidance for qualifying individuals regarding the assistance available under this section, including a description of any documentation such an individual shall provide to the Secretary to confirm whether the individual’s lapse in employment meets the definition of employment disruption.