Establishing a loan repayment program for public defense attorneys and prosecutors.

The requirement for funds to come from a specific legislative account was removed, allowing the program to utilize any appropriated funds intended for loan repayments or scholarships.

The program was modified to repay both government and private student loans, and the total repayment cap is now limited to the participant's actual loan debt.

The definition of eligible employers was expanded to explicitly include private law firms and solo practitioners that contract with the state to provide public defense.

The maximum annual assistance was changed from a fixed $20,000 to a minimum of $20,000, with the ability to extend the program for an additional three years if funding allows.

A new requirement mandates that loan repayment must begin no later than 90 days after the individual becomes a participant.

New provisions require participants to allow access to loan records for verification and authorize the office to use wage garnishment to collect unpaid amounts.

The repayment obligation for those who leave early was clarified to be the lesser of the unserved portion of the obligation or the total amount paid, with a maximum repayment period of 10 years.

The bill was reorganized to include detailed subsections on loan verification, payment arrangements, and the establishment of an appeal process by rule.