Texas Senate Bill SB1509

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to eligibility requirements for the repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.

Impact

By expanding the eligibility for loan repayment assistance, SB1509 aims to encourage more qualified mental health professionals to serve in underserved areas. The changes proposed by the bill would specifically benefit licensed physicians, psychologists, licensed professional counselors, advanced practice registered nurses, licensed clinical social workers, and chemical dependency counselors. This could lead to an increase in the number of mental health service providers available to populations that are currently underserved.

Summary

Senate Bill 1509 seeks to amend existing regulations around the eligibility requirements for the repayment of certain education loans for mental health professionals. The bill broadens the definition of who qualifies as a mental health professional and stipulates specific eligibility criteria for receiving repayment assistance. The intent behind the bill is to address the shortage of mental health professionals in Texas by incentivizing practitioners to work in designated shortage areas.

Contention

Notably, the bill includes different financial caps on repayment assistance based on the type of mental health professional, which may raise discussions about equity among different specialties within the field. Critics may argue that varying repayment amounts could disincentivize some practitioners from pursuing loans if they perceive the benefits as unequal. Nevertheless, the overarching goal of SB1509 is to provide meaningful support for mental health professionals in areas of critical need.