83R2915 AED-F
By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 620
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 II to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER II. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
AND AUDIOLOGIST EDUCATION LOANS
Sec. 61.9811. 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 students 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. 61.9812. 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. 61.9813. 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 institution
of higher education.
Sec. 61.9814. 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) For each applicable year of employment described by
Subsection (a), the total amount of repayment assistance grants
received by a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist under
this subchapter may not exceed:
(1) $6,000 for an eligible recipient who holds a
master's degree but not a doctoral degree; or
(2) $9,000 for an eligible recipient who holds a
doctoral degree.
Sec. 61.9815. ELIGIBLE LOANS. The board may provide
repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for
graduate-level education at any public or private institution of
higher education in or outside of this state received by an eligible
speech-language pathologist or audiologist through any lender.
Sec. 61.9816. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
repayment made under this subchapter in a lump sum payable to:
(1) the lender and the speech-language pathologist or
audiologist, in accordance with any applicable federal law; or
(2) 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
the principal amount and accrued interest of the loan.
Sec. 61.9817. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The board may appoint
advisory committees to assist the board in administering this
subchapter.
Sec. 61.9818. PROGRAM FUNDING. (a) The program is funded
only from appropriations made specifically to fund the program and
from gifts and grants. The board shall attempt to provide repayment
assistance in each state fiscal biennium in amounts sufficient to
use all amounts appropriated for the program in that biennium.
(b) The board may solicit and accept gifts and grants for
the purposes of this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9819. 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 takes effect September 1, 2013.