This bill creates a new law school loan repayment program by adding two sections to chapter 28B.77 RCW to provide loan repayment assistance, subject to available appropriations, to Washington attorneys practicing full time in public defense or as county/city prosecutors. It establishes eligibility rules, requires participants to commit to at least three years of qualifying full‑time public defense or prosecuting service (with limited extensions for good cause and waivers only for family or medical circumstances), and defines “practicing in public defense” and “practicing as a prosecutor” for covered employment settings. The program sets minimum and maximum payment rules and procedural requirements: payments must be at least $20,000 per year for three years (potentially extendable for an additional three years if funding allows), may not exceed $120,000 or the participant’s loan debt, and are paid quarterly after each quarter of service. Repayments may cover principal and interest on government or private loans, participants must allow office access to loan records, payments must begin no later than 90 days after participation, and participants who leave before satisfying their service obligation must repay either the unsatisfied portion of the service obligation or the total amount paid on their behalf, subject to collection (including wage garnishment), appeal procedures, and a maximum administrative repayment term of 10 years with possible interest. The bill delegates many program details to an unspecified “office,” which is to administer rules, authorize expenditures, maintain account custody with the state treasurer, and prioritize applicants in rural areas when funds are insufficient. Important specifics are not provided in the extracted text: the bill does not identify which office will administer the program, does not state the Washington State Bar Association caseload standard, does not define “rural,” does not list the criteria for eligible educational and living expenses, and does not include any legislative appropriation amounts or enactment schedule.

If enacted, the state would create a new loan repayment program that can pay at least $20,000 a year for three years (and possibly extend another three years if money is available) to Washington-licensed attorneys working full time as public defenders or city/county prosecutors, with total aid capped at $120,000 or the participant’s loan balance. Recipients must commit to at least three years in qualifying public defense or prosecuting work, receive payments quarterly after each quarter of service (starting within 90 days of participation), must let the administering office verify loans, and face immediate repayment obligations or collection (including wage garnishment) if they leave before satisfying the service commitment. The people most affected are public defenders and prosecuting attorneys (including those employed by government, nonprofits under contract, or private firms contracting with government), who would get a significant new recruitment and retention incentive, especially if they work in rural areas which get priority when funds are limited. The program’s existence and size depend on legislative appropriations and an unspecified “office” that will set rules, define eligible expenses, apply the public defender caseload standard, and run collections; those implementation details and the definitions of “rural” and eligible expenses are not specified in the extracted text.