Student loans: California Legislative Staff Education Loan Repayment Program.

Added Section 69518.6 to the Education Code establishing the California Legislative Staff Education Loan Repayment Program, transforming the bill from a non-operative intent statement into an actual program with funding, eligibility, and administration rules.

The original Section 1 (legislative intent statement) was renumbered as Section 2 and retained, while the new operative program provisions became Section 1. The bill title was expanded to reference the specific program name and the Education Code section being added.

Provides up to $50,000 in student loan repayment per applicant, disbursed in equal monthly installments over 20 years. Creates the California Legislative Staff Education Loan Repayment Fund, which may accept donations. Operation is contingent on appropriation in the Budget Act or another statute.

Administrative costs are capped at no more than 5 percent of funds appropriated for the program.

Applicants must be full-time legislative staffers (40 hours per week) for a member of the Assembly or Senate, or by a committee of either chamber, with a minimum of 12 continuous months of employment. Retroactive payments are available for months 6 through 12 after the initial 12-month period.

Applicants must provide proof of full-time employment and their supervisor or manager must attest under penalty of perjury that the applicant is in good standing with their employer. If an employee leaves before receiving the full amount, they forfeit the remaining balance.

The Student Aid Commission must monitor the program for fraud, may deny applicants using fraudulent materials, and may pursue legal action to recover funds awarded in error or due to fraud.

The commission must report annually to the Legislature on or before January 1 of each year, including the number of awardees, fund balance, and estimates of funding needed to sustain the program.