Illinois · Senate Bill 3579 · 103rd General Assembly

OPTOMETRIST LOAN REPAYMENT ACT

SB 3579 Sponsored by Mattie Hunter Died in committee

  1. Introduced Feb 9, 2024
  2. In committee Feb 9, 2024
  3. Died  
  4. Passed the House  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Creates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Optometrists Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for optometrists who practice in this State to increase the total number of optometrists in this State. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, the Department shall, each year, consider applications for assistance under the program; sets forth other…

Read the full title (180 words)

Creates the Loan Repayment Assistance for Optometrists Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall establish an educational loan repayment assistance program for optometrists who practice in this State to increase the total number of optometrists in this State. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, the Department shall, each year, consider applications for assistance under the program; sets forth other provisions concerning applications for assistance. Provides that an applicant is eligible for assistance if, among other qualifications, the applicant is practicing full time in this State as an optometrist, is currently repaying educational loans, and agrees to continue full time practice in this State for at least 3 years. Provides that for each year that a qualified applicant practices full time in this State as an optometrist, the Department shall award a grant to that person in an amount equal to the amount in educational loans that the person must repay that year; specifies other grant requirements. Sets forth provisions concerning administration, rulemaking, appropriations, and a penalty for the failure to fulfill the work obligation. Effective January 1, 2025.

Every action

8 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

  1. SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Mattie Hunter
  2. SenateFirst Reading
  3. CommitteeReferred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  4. CommitteeAssigned to Appropriations - Health and Human Services · Senate Health and Human Services
  5. SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 5, 2024
  6. SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 3, 2024
  7. CommitteeRule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  8. SenateSession Sine Die

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

From Illinois's official records (www.ilga.gov), checked Nov 2, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.