84R10426 KSD-D By: Howard H.B. No. 2396 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to eliminating requirements that certain public institutions of higher education set aside portions of tuition for student loan repayment programs for certain physicians and state attorneys. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 61.5391(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The physician education loan repayment program account is an account in the general revenue fund. The account is composed of: (1) gifts and grants contributed to the account; (2) earnings on the principal of the account; and (3) other amounts deposited to the credit of the account, including: (A) money deposited under Section [61.539(b) or] 61.5392; (B) legislative appropriations; and (C) money deposited under Section 155.2415, Tax Code. SECTION 2. Sections 61.9730 and 61.9732, Education Code, are amended to read as follows: Sec. 61.9730. TOTAL AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. The total amount of repayment assistance distributed by the board under this subchapter may not exceed the total amount of gifts, grants, and donations accepted by the board for repayment assistance [and tuition set aside under Section 61.9731]. Sec. 61.9732. LIMITATIONS ON FUNDING. The loan repayment program under this subchapter may be funded only from[: [(1)] gifts, grants, and donations accepted by the board[; and [(2) tuition set aside under Section 61.9731]. SECTION 3. The following provisions of the Education Code are repealed: (1) Section 61.539; and (2) Section 61.9731. SECTION 4. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies beginning with tuition charged for the 2015 fall semester. (b) Tuition charged for any semester or other academic term before the 2015 fall semester is covered by the applicable law as it existed before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.