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Nurses, educators and students urge committee to pass $5,000 loan reimbursement for 50 hours of community service
Summary
Nurses, nursing educators and recent graduates testified in strong support of HB 6,886, which would provide $5,000 in student‑loan reimbursement for nurses who volunteer 50 hours annually in nonprofit community or public‑health settings; witnesses urged clarity on tax treatment, outreach and whether preceptors/APRNs should be eligible.
Multiple witnesses appearing remotely and in person told the committee that HB 6,886 — a proposed nursing student loan reimbursement linked to volunteer service — would incentivize nurses to provide community‑based preventive care and help address workforce shortages in underserved areas.
Samantha Gonzalez, a recent nursing graduate, said the bill’s $5,000 reimbursement for 50 hours of community service would ease student‑loan burdens and expand primary‑care reach in towns such as Derby by funding screenings, translation assistance and referrals to community resources. Leslie K. Youngblood, a nursing professor and nonprofit CEO, and Kimberly Sandor of the Connecticut Nurses Association described how volunteer placements with community partners can reduce preventable hospitalizations and strengthen public‑health outreach. Kristina Mukon suggested adding incentives for APRN preceptors to increase clinical training capacity.
Witnesses pressed for implementation details. Sandor urged clear public awareness so eligible nurses can find and use the benefit, asked whether the reimbursement would be tax‑free, and recommended safeguards so participants get the promised benefit rather than a first‑come, first‑served allocation that could exhaust funds early. Lawmakers asked about starting pay for nurses and how a $5,000 payment compares to educational costs; one witness said entry pay for many nurses is in the mid‑$30s per hour and that typical undergraduate nursing programs can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
The witnesses emphasized coordination with community nonprofits, CTE and educational programs to place nurses in settings where 50 volunteer hours would provide measurable benefit. Several speakers urged alignment with existing federal or state programs to avoid duplication while noting many established programs have limited reach and the proposed bill would create a targeted incentive for community service by nurses.
The hearing concluded with committee scheduling announcements; the transcript does not show a committee vote on HB 6,886 during this session.
