By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1258
(In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2013; March 13, 2013, read
first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
April 29, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 29, 2013,
sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1258 By: Zaffirini
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to improving access to nursing education programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsections (a) and (b), Section 51.762,
Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The board, with the assistance of an advisory committee
composed of representatives of general academic teaching
institutions, junior college districts, public state colleges, and
public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all
institutions of higher education that admit freshman-level
students:
(1) shall adopt by rule:
(A) a common admission application form for use
by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to a general
academic teaching institution; [and]
(B) an electronic common admission application
form for use by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to
an institution of higher education that admits freshman-level
students, other than a general academic teaching institution; and
(C) if the board determines that adoption of the
form would be cost-effective for nursing schools, an electronic
common admission application form for use by a person seeking
admission as a student to an undergraduate nursing education
program at an institution of higher education; and
(2) may adopt by rule a printed format common
admission application form for use by a person seeking admission as
a freshman student to an institution of higher education that
admits freshman-level students, other than a general academic
teaching institution.
(b) The board, with the assistance of an advisory committee
composed of representatives of general academic teaching
institutions, junior college districts, public state colleges, and
public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all
institutions of higher education that admit undergraduate transfer
students, may adopt by rule:
(1) a common admission application form for use by a
person seeking admission as an undergraduate transfer student to a
general academic teaching institution; [and]
(2) an electronic or printed format common admission
application form for use by a person seeking admission as an
undergraduate transfer student to an institution of higher
education that admits undergraduate transfer students, other than a
general academic teaching institution; and
(3) if the board determines that adoption of the form
would be cost-effective for nursing schools, an electronic common
admission application form for use by a person seeking admission as
a transfer student to an undergraduate nursing education program at
an institution of higher education.
SECTION 2. Section 61.026, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.026. COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) The
chairman may appoint committees from the board's membership as the
chairman [he] or the board may find necessary from time to time.
The board may appoint advisory committees from outside its
membership as it may deem necessary.
(b) If the board directs an advisory committee to assist the
board in exercising its authority under Section 61.051(j) regarding
an off-campus course in nursing education, including clinical
coursework, the board shall require the advisory committee to
include or consult with one or more for-profit career schools
offering nursing education courses in the area where the course is
to be offered.
SECTION 3. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter II to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER II. NURSING FACULTY LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Sec. 61.9821. REPAYMENT AUTHORIZED. The board shall
establish and administer a program to provide, in accordance with
this subchapter and board rules, assistance in the repayment of
student loans for nurses who:
(1) are serving on the faculties of nursing degree
programs at institutions of higher education or private or
independent institutions of higher education in positions that
require an advanced degree in professional nursing; and
(2) apply and qualify for the assistance.
Sec. 61.9822. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan
repayment assistance under this subchapter, a nurse must:
(1) apply to the board;
(2) at the time of application for repayment
assistance have been employed full-time for at least one year as,
and be currently employed full-time as, a faculty member of a
nursing degree program at an institution of higher education or a
private or independent institution of higher education; and
(3) comply with any additional requirements adopted by
board rule.
Sec. 61.9823. LIMITATIONS. (a) On qualifying for loan
repayment assistance under this subchapter, a nurse may receive
repayment assistance for each year of full-time employment as a
faculty member of a nursing degree program at an institution of
higher education or private or independent institution of higher
education, not to exceed five years.
(b) The amount of loan repayment assistance received by a
nurse under this subchapter may not exceed $7,000 in any one year.
(c) The total amount of loan repayment assistance provided
under this subchapter may not exceed the total amount of gifts and
grants accepted by the board for the repayment assistance and other
funds available to the board for the repayment assistance,
including any money reallocated under Section 61.9826.
Sec. 61.9824. 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 a loan for undergraduate education, received by an
eligible person through any lender.
(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
student loan that is in default at the time of the nurse's
application.
Sec. 61.9825. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
repayment under this subchapter in a lump sum:
(1) payable to both the lender or other holder of the
loan and the nurse; or
(2) directly to the lender or other holder of the loan
on the nurse's behalf.
(b) A repayment under this subchapter may be applied to any
amount due in connection with the loan.
Sec. 61.9826. REALLOCATION OF MONEY. (a) In each state
fiscal year, the board shall reallocate for loan repayment
assistance under this subchapter for a particular year any money in
the physician education loan repayment program account established
under Section 61.5391 that exceeds the amount necessary in that
fiscal year for purposes of repayment assistance under Subchapter
J.
(b) Any money reallocated under Subsection (a) in a fiscal
year that is not used for loan repayment assistance under this
subchapter in that fiscal year is treated as if that unused amount
had not been reallocated in that fiscal year.
Sec. 61.9827. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may solicit and
accept gifts and grants from any source for the purposes of this
subchapter.
Sec. 61.9828. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules as
necessary to administer 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 and private
or independent institution of higher education;
(2) any appropriate state agency; and
(3) any appropriate professional association.
SECTION 4. Subsection (b), Section 61.5391, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(b) Money in the account may not be appropriated for any
purpose except:
(1) to provide loan repayment assistance to eligible
physicians under this subchapter; or
(2) to provide loan repayment assistance under
Subchapter II if reallocated under Section 61.9826.
SECTION 5. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt the rules for loan repayment assistance under
Subchapter II, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, not
later than December 1, 2013.
SECTION 6. Not later than September 1, 2014, the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board shall make an initial
determination regarding whether adopting electronic common
admission application forms for undergraduate nursing education
programs would be cost-effective as required by Subsections (a) and
(b), Section 51.762, Education Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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