Each student who receives a loan may cancel the total amount of the loan by completing one year of return service in a public school, publicly supported secondary school, special education facility as defined in section 7001, subsection 6 or private school approved for tuition purposes in the State for each year the individual receives a loan. An individual who received that individual's first program loan after January 1, 2000 may also cancel the total amount of the loan by completing one year of return service by working in a child care facility. The return service requirement is one year for every 2 years or less that the individual receives a loan if return service is performed in an underserved subject area or an underserved geographic area. Return service for this purpose must be performed within 10 years of graduation from the institution of higher education. If the chief executive officer grants a deferment, the time period for performance of return service may be extended for the same period as the deferment. Return service may not be credited for the same semester for which an individual receives a loan pursuant to this chapter. Pro rata loan forgiveness may be granted for part-time return service as determined by rule of the authority. Failure to fulfill the return service option necessitates repayment to the authority as follows.   [PL 2019, c. 303, §8 (AMD).]