81R4721 SJM-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 4181
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain
professionals employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter GG to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER GG. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL
EMPLOYEES OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Sec. 61.9801. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.
(2) "Eligible profession" means the profession of
social work or psychology or another profession designated by the
department because members of that profession are qualified to
offer services for which the department has determined a need
exists in the department's workforce.
(3) "Eligible professional" means a person who holds
an appropriate license or certification required to practice an
eligible profession.
Sec. 61.9802. REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The board
shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board rules,
assistance in the repayment of student loans for eligible
professionals who apply and qualify for assistance.
Sec. 61.9803. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive
repayment assistance, an eligible professional must:
(1) apply to the board;
(2) at the time the eligible professional applies for
the assistance, have been employed in the profession on which the
professional's eligibility is based for at least one year by the
department and be currently employed full-time in that profession
by the department; and
(3) comply with any other requirements adopted by
board rule under this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9804. LIMITATION. (a) On qualifying for the
assistance, an eligible professional may receive repayment
assistance grants for each year of employment by the department,
not to exceed five years.
(b) The amount of repayment assistance grants that an
eligible professional may receive for each year of employment by
the department may not exceed 20 percent of the eligible
professional's total outstanding principal amount of student loans
as of the time the person initially applies for the assistance.
Sec. 61.9805. DESIGNATION OF ELIGIBLE PROFESSION. The
department shall notify the board, in the time and manner specified
by the board, of any profession the department designates as an
eligible profession for purposes of this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9806. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for
education at an institution of higher education, including loans
for undergraduate education, received by an eligible professional
through any lender.
(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
student loan that is in default at the time of the eligible
professional's application.
(c) Each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt to
provide repayment assistance in amounts sufficient to use all the
money appropriated to the board for that biennium for the purpose of
providing repayment assistance under this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9807. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
repayment made under this subchapter in a lump sum payable to the
lender or holder of the loan and the eligible professional, or may
deliver the repayment directly to the lender or loan holder on
behalf of the eligible professional, in accordance with any
applicable federal law.
(b) A repayment made under this subchapter may be applied to
the principal amount of the loan and to any interest that becomes
due on the loan.
Sec. 61.9808. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The board may appoint
advisory committees to assist the board in administering this
subchapter.
Sec. 61.9809. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS. The board may accept
gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9810. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules
necessary for the administration of this subchapter.
(b) The board shall distribute a copy of the rules adopted
under this section and pertinent information regarding this
subchapter to:
(1) each institution of higher education;
(2) the department; and
(3) any appropriate professional association.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.