New Jersey § 18a:71c-87

§ 18a:71c-87.

As used in this act: “ Approved site ” means a community provider of behavioral and mental health services identified by

the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, in consultation with the Department

of Health, for inclusion in the program. Approved sites may include, but need not be limited to, providers operated by a

nonprofit, institution of higher education, school district, county, the Department

of Children and Families, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of

Health. “ Authority ” means the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. “ Eligible behavioral healthcare providers ” means psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, psychiatric

nurse mental health clinical specialists; board certified behavior analysts; licensed

clinical alcohol and drug counselors; and any other professionals identified by the

executive director of the authority for inclusion in the program. “ Eligible qualifying loan expenses ” means the cumulative outstanding balance of student loans covering the cost of attendance

at an undergraduate or graduate institution of higher education at the time an applicant

is selected for the program. Interest paid or due on qualifying loans that an applicant has taken out for use

in paying the costs of undergraduate or graduate education shall be considered eligible

for reimbursement under the program. The authority may establish a limit on the total amount of qualifying loans which

may be redeemed for participants under the program, provided that the total redemption

of qualifying loans does not exceed $150,000, or the maximum amount authorized by

the federal government, whichever is greater, either in State funds or the sum of

federal, State, and other non-federal matching funds, pursuant to section 338I of

the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. s.254q-1 ), whichever is applicable. “ Executive director ” means the executive director of the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. “ Program ” means the Behavioral Healthcare Provider Loan Redemption Program established pursuant

to this act. “ Program participant ” means a behavioral healthcare provider who contracts with the authority to engage

in the clinical practice of mental or behavioral healthcare at an approved site in

exchange for the redemption of eligible qualifying loan expenses provided under the

program. “ Qualifying loan ” means a government or commercial loan for the actual costs paid for tuition and

reasonable education and living expenses relating to the obtaining of a degree for

use in a mental or behavioral healthcare profession. “ Total and permanent disability ” means a physical or mental disability that is expected to continue indefinitely

or result in death and renders a participant in the program unable to perform that

person's service obligation, as determined by the executive director or his designee.