Section 28B.102.060. Repayment obligation.

(1) Participants in the conditional scholarship program incur an obligation to repay the conditional scholarship, with interest and an equalization fee, unless they teach for two years in an approved education program for each year of scholarship received, under rules adopted by the office. Participants who teach in a designated teacher shortage area shall have one year of loan canceled for each year they teach in the shortage area.

(2) The interest rate shall be determined by the office. Participants who fail to complete the teaching service shall incur an equalization fee based on the remaining unforgiven balance of the loan. The equalization fee shall be added to the remaining balance and repaid by the participant.

(3) The minimum payment shall be set by the office. The maximum period for repayment shall be ten years, with payments of principal and interest commencing six months from the date the participant completes or discontinues the course of study. The interest rate shall be determined by the office and be established by rule. Provisions for deferral of payment shall be determined by the office. The office shall establish an appeal process by rule.

(4) The entire principal and interest of each payment shall be forgiven for each payment period in which the participant teaches in an approved education program until the entire repayment obligation is satisfied. Should the participant cease to teach in an approved education program in this state before the participant's repayment obligation is completed, payments on the unsatisfied portion of the principal and interest shall begin the next payment period and continue until the remainder of the participant's repayment obligation is satisfied.

(5) The office is responsible for collection of repayments made under this section and shall exercise due diligence in such collection, maintaining all necessary records to insure that maximum repayments are made. Collection and servicing of repayments under this section shall be pursued using the full extent of the law, including wage garnishment if necessary. The office is responsible to forgive all or parts of such repayments under the criteria established in this section and shall maintain all necessary records of forgiven payments.

(6) Receipts from the payment of principal or interest or any other subsidies to which the office as administrator is entitled, which are paid by or on behalf of participants under this section, shall be deposited in the future teachers conditional scholarship account and shall be used to cover the costs of granting the conditional scholarships, maintaining necessary records, and making collections under subsection (5) of this section. The office shall maintain accurate records of these costs, and all receipts beyond those necessary to pay such costs shall be used to grant conditional scholarships to eligible students.

(7) The office shall adopt rules to define the terms of repayment, including applicable interest rates, fees, and deferments.

[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 § 181; 2011 c 26 § 4; 2004 c 58 § 7; 1996 c 53 § 2; 1993 c 423 § 1; 1991 c 164 § 6; 1987 c 437 § 6.]

NOTES:

Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 11 §§ 101-103, 106-202, 204-244, and 301: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Intent—2011 1st sp.s. c 11: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.

Effective date—1996 c 53: See note following RCW 28B.102.020.

2011 1st sp.s. c 11 § 181; 2011 c 26 § 4; 2004 c 58 § 7; 1996 c 53 § 2; 1993 c 423 § 1; 1991 c 164 § 6; 1987 c 437 § 6.