82R4583 KYF-F
By: Christian H.B. No. 653
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 graduate programs at public 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 GG to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER GG. 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
graduate degree program in audiology or speech-language pathology
accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology
and Speech-Language Pathology.
(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 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 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.
(b) The amount of repayment assistance grants that a
speech-language pathologist or an audiologist may receive for each
year of employment by a public school or a communicative disorders
program at an institution of higher education may not exceed 20
percent of the speech-language pathologist's or audiologist's total
principal amount of student loans.
(c) The total amount of repayment assistance grants
received by a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist under
this subchapter may not exceed $30,000 for an eligible recipient
who holds a master's degree but not a doctoral degree, or $45,000
for an eligible recipient who holds a doctoral degree.
Sec. 61.9805. 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 a speech-language
pathologist or an audiologist through any lender.
(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
student loan that is in default at the time of the speech-language
pathologist's or audiologist'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. 61.9806. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
repayment made under this subchapter in a lump sum payable to the
lender and the speech-language pathologist or audiologist, in
accordance with any applicable federal law.
(b) A repayment made under this subchapter may be applied
only to the principal amount of 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 institution of higher education;
(2) any appropriate state agency; and
(3) any appropriate professional association.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.