A public hearing will be held Tuesday for a plan that could help teachers, nurses and workers in social services pay off some of their student loan debt.

At a news conference in Hartford Monday, state Rep. Corey Paris said people of color and women have a harder time paying off student loan debts.

"Borrowers who are women, Black and brown folks are more likely to hold student loan debt, owe larger amounts of debt and more likely experience more difficulty in paying that loan," said Paris.

This proposed pilot program would reimburse up to $5,000 a year for four years, but there are restrictions.

Applicants will have to do volunteer work, they need to be living in Connecticut for five years, and there are age and income limits as well.

Gov. Ned Lamont expressed some doubts about the proposal Monday, saying he is concerned about the burden to tax payers, and that the state already has a program that gives companies tax credits for helping to pay student loans.