Kerttula Wins Incentives for Nurses JUNEAU – House Democratic Whip Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau) today won support in the House of Representatives for a bill that provides additional incentives for nurses to work and stay in Alaska. House Bill 443 would extend the existing nurses' home loan program, offered through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), to Licensed Practical Nurses. Alaska, like the rest of the nation, is experiencing a critical nursing shortage that will only worsen in the coming years. Many different incentive ideas have been discussed, including a nurse student loan forgiveness program, expanded education programs and housing loan programs. Representative Kerttula's bill would allow AHFC to give no down-payment home loans to Licensed Practical Nurses who are Alaska residents. "When I went to see my doctor this summer, my nurse told me that she was ineligible for the nurses' loan program that we created last year. I thought that was wrong, so I introduced House Bill 443," said Kerttula. "This corrects an inequity in state law and will encourage nurses to come to and stay in Alaska." Extending the program will not cost the state any additional money. House Bill 443 passed the house with a vote of 35 to 1 and now goes to the Senate for consideration. ### |
