By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 1141
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to student loan repayment assistance for speech-language
pathologists or audiologists employed by a public school or as
faculty members of certain programs at institutions of higher
education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter FF to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER FF. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
AND AUDIOLOGIST EDUCATION LOANS
Sec. 61.9801. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Audiologist" means a person licensed as an
audiologist under Chapter 401, Occupations Code.
(2) "Communicative disorders program" means:
(A) a graduate degree program in audiology or
speech-language pathology accredited by the Council on Academic
Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology; or
(B) an undergraduate degree program that
prepares and qualifies a student to apply for admission to a
graduate degree program described by Paragraph (A).
(3) "Public school" means a public preschool or
primary or secondary school in this state.
(4) "Speech-language pathologist" means a person
licensed as a speech-language pathologist under Chapter 401,
Occupations Code.
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 speech-language
pathologists and audiologists who apply and qualify for assistance.
Sec. 61.9803. ELIGIBILITY. (a) To be eligible to receive
repayment assistance, a speech-language pathologist or an
audiologist must:
(1) apply to the board; and
(2) at the time the speech-language pathologist or
audiologist applies for the assistance:
(A) have been employed as a speech-language
pathologist or as an audiologist, as applicable, for at least one
year by, and be currently employed full-time in that capacity by, a
public school; or
(B) have been employed as a faculty member of a
communicative disorders program at an institution of higher
education or private or independent institution of higher education
for at least one year, and be currently employed full-time in that
capacity at such an institution.
(b) The board by rule may provide for repayment assistance
on a pro rata basis for speech-language pathologists and
audiologists employed part-time by a public school or by an
institution of higher education or private or independent
institution of higher education.
Sec. 61.9804. LIMITATION. (a) On qualifying for the
assistance, a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist may
receive repayment assistance grants for each year of employment,
not to exceed five years, by:
(1) a public school; or
(2) a communicative disorders program at an
institution of higher education or private or independent
institution of higher education.
(b) The total amount of repayment assistance grants
received by a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist under
this subchapter may not exceed, for each applicable year of
employment:
(1) for an eligible recipient who holds a master's
degree but not a doctoral degree, $6,000; or
(2) for an eligible recipient who holds a doctoral
degree, $9,000.
Sec. 61.9805. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for
education at any public or private institution of higher education,
including loans for undergraduate education, received by a
speech-language pathologist or an audiologist through any lender.
(b) 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. 61.9806. REPAYMENT. (a) After each year of
employment for which a speech-language pathologist or audiologist
is eligible to receive a repayment assistance grant under this
subchapter, the coordinating board shall deliver any repayment made
under this subchapter in a lump sum payable:
(1) to both the speech-language pathologist or
audiologist and the lender or other holder of the loan; or
(2) directly to the lender or other holder of the loan,
on behalf of the speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
(b) A repayment made under this subchapter may be applied to
both the principal amount of the loan and to interest on the loan.
Sec. 61.9807. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The board may appoint
advisory committees to assist the board in administering this
subchapter.
Sec. 61.9808. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS. The board may accept
gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9809. 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 appropriate institution of higher education
or private or independent institution of higher education;
(2) any appropriate state agency; and
(3) any appropriate professional association.
SECTION 2. This Act does not make an appropriation. A
provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program,
creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental
entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the
legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the
provision.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.