Create the court-appointed public defender loan repayment program

HB 924 establishes a new loan repayment program for attorneys working as court-appointed public defenders in Ohio. Under this initiative, the state public defender office will repay up to $50,000 of eligible educational loans for lawyers who commit to working at least 1,000 hours per year for a total of ten consecutive years or fifteen nonconsecutive years within a twenty-year span. To qualify, applicants must have made timely monthly payments on their loans, not be enrolled in other federal or state debt forgiveness programs, and hold a license in good standing. The program is administered through rules set by the state public defender, which will include procedures for applications, verification of information, and public inquiries. Funding for these repayments will come from a dedicated state treasury account established to receive donations, gifts, and bequests specifically for this purpose.