83R3014 AED-D
By: Watson S.B. No. 737
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain child
protective services workers.
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 CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
CASEWORKER LOANS
Sec. 61.9851. REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. (a) The
board may provide, using funds appropriated for that purpose and in
accordance with this subchapter and board rules, assistance in the
repayment of student loans for persons who apply and qualify for the
assistance.
(b) The provision of financial assistance in the repayment
of student loans under this subchapter promotes a public purpose.
Sec. 61.9852. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive
repayment assistance, a child protective services caseworker must:
(1) apply to the board; and
(2) have been employed for at least one year as, and be
currently employed full-time as, a direct delivery caseworker at
the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Sec. 61.9853. AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE; LIMITATION.
(a) For each year that a child protective services caseworker is
employed full-time and serves as a direct delivery caseworker at
the Department of Family and Protective Services, the caseworker
may receive repayment assistance under this subchapter in an amount
not to exceed $5,000.
(b) A child protective services caseworker may not receive
repayment assistance under this subchapter for more than four
years.
(c) If money will not be sufficient to provide repayment
assistance to each eligible applicant, the board shall award
repayment assistance to eligible applicants by prioritizing awards
to applicants employed in regions of this state experiencing the
highest turnover.
Sec. 61.9854. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for
education at a public or private institution of higher education,
including loans for undergraduate and graduate education, issued
through any lender.
(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
student loan that is in default at the time of the caseworker's
application.
Sec. 61.9855. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
repayment assistance made under this subchapter in a lump sum
directly to the lender and in accordance with any applicable
federal law.
(b) Repayment assistance received under this subchapter may
be applied to the principal amount of the loan and to interest that
accrues.
Sec. 61.9856. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The board may appoint an
advisory committee from outside the board's membership to assist
the board in performing its duties under this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9857. FUNDING. (a) The repayment assistance
program established by this subchapter is funded from the child
protective services caseworker student loan assistance trust fund.
The trust fund is established outside the treasury and is
administered by the comptroller. Money in the trust fund may be
spent without appropriation and only to fund the program. Interest
and income from the assets of the trust fund shall be credited to
and deposited in the trust fund.
(b) The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this
subchapter and shall deposit money accepted under this subsection
to the credit of the trust fund.
(c) The legislature may appropriate money to the trust fund.
Sec. 61.9858. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules
necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including a
rule that establishes the amount of repayment assistance awarded to
a caseworker each year.
(b) The board shall distribute to each institution of higher
education, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and
appropriate professional associations copies of the rules adopted
under this section and pertinent information in this subchapter.
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt the rules for the repayment assistance program under
Subchapter II, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, not
later than December 1, 2013.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.