BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3579 82R2982 KEL-D By: Gonzales, Larry (Zaffirini) Higher Education 5/17/2011 Engrossed BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3579 82R2982 KEL-D By: Gonzales, Larry (Zaffirini) Higher Education 5/17/2011 Engrossed Senate Research Center H.B. 3579 82R2982 KEL-D By: Gonzales, Larry (Zaffirini) Higher Education 5/17/2011 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Certain physicians who provide health care services to certain recipients are currently eligible to receive educational loan repayment assistance from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), but only toward the principal of such a loan. According to interested parties, THECB has noticed that some lenders are not applying payments to the principal. H.B. 3579 seeks to allow THECB to make physician loan repayments to the entire balance of a loan. H.B. 3579 amends current law relating to repayment assistance for certain physician education loans. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Repealer: Section 61.535(b) (authorizing a repayment made under this subchapter to be applied only to the principal amount of the loan), Education Code. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011. AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Certain physicians who provide health care services to certain recipients are currently eligible to receive educational loan repayment assistance from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), but only toward the principal of such a loan. According to interested parties, THECB has noticed that some lenders are not applying payments to the principal. H.B. 3579 seeks to allow THECB to make physician loan repayments to the entire balance of a loan. H.B. 3579 amends current law relating to repayment assistance for certain physician education loans. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Repealer: Section 61.535(b) (authorizing a repayment made under this subchapter to be applied only to the principal amount of the loan), Education Code. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.