Senate approves Sen. Baldacci bill to address staffing shortages in critical public safety jobs
AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, the Maine Senate passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor. LD 1785, “An Act To Address Staffing Shortages in Critical Public Safety Jobs through Economic Incentives,” would address staffing shortages in critical public safety jobs by creating the Maine Public Safety Workers Loan Repayment Program in the Finance Authority of Maine.
“I have worked with local law enforcement, firefighters and other emergency services employees in developing this bill, and they are in full support. While there are other student loan repayment plans offered by the state, none are tailor-made for public safety workers like this bill proposes. It would be the first and only of its kind,” said Sen. Baldacci. “Our public safety workers have extremely important jobs and have not wavered one bit throughout this pandemic. This bill not only reinforces a critical field facing dire shortages, but it also sends a clear message to these public safety workers that they matter to us and that we recognize the incredibly difficult work they do for our communities every day.”
The amended version of LD 1785 would establish the Maine Public Safety Workers Loan Repayment Program in the Finance Authority of Maine. The program provides student loan repayment to public safety workers who live and work in the state. Under the program, the authority pays up to $3,000 per year for a maximum of 3 years of a recipient’s outstanding loan balance. The amendment establishes the Maine Public Safety Workers Loan Repayment Program Fund for the program and appropriates a one-time amount of $2 million to the fund.
“This is a rather simple bill. We are facing a critical workforce shortage, whether it be firefighters, police officers, EMS or the related dispatch,” said Sen. Chip Curry, D-Belfast. “This bill proposes to allow for student loan repayment after a year of service in these fields. The goal is to recruit and retain high-quality workers to fill these very necessary jobs. This sector has had an incredibly difficult time these last two years, and while we have passed a variety of measures to help in other areas, I think this is an area that is still in need of our attention. From my time as a college academic advisor, I have worked with folks in all of these sectors in their higher education. It is very common for the workers in these sectors to go back to school to try and attain a higher degree or certificate, only to find they don’t qualify for any Pell Grants or state funding like they had before and are left to pay this on their own. This is a way for us to invest in these essential fields and to support these workers who do incredible work for Maine.”
LD 1785 faces further votes before the Senate and House.
