85R23302 MM-F
By: Price, Coleman, Darby, Guillen, H.B. No. 3083
Thompson of Harris, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to repayment of certain mental health professional
education loans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.601, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mental
health professional" means:
(1) a licensed physician who is:
(A) a graduate of an accredited psychiatric
residency training program; or
(B) certified in psychiatry by:
(i) the American Board of Psychiatry and
Neurology; or
(ii) the American Osteopathic Board of
Neurology and Psychiatry;
(2) a psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002,
Occupations Code;
(3) a licensed professional counselor, as defined by
Section 503.002, Occupations Code;
(4) an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined
by Section 301.152, Occupations Code, who holds a nationally
recognized board certification in psychiatric or mental health
nursing; [and]
(5) a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by
Section 505.002, Occupations Code; and
(6) a chemical dependency counselor, as defined by
Section 504.001, Occupations Code.
SECTION 2. Section 61.604, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), if in a state fiscal
year not all funds available for purposes of the program are used,
the board may allocate any unused funds to award repayment
assistance grants to mental health professionals in any of the
professions listed in Section 61.601.
SECTION 3. Section 61.607(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The total amount of repayment assistance received by a
mental health professional under this subchapter may not exceed:
(1) $160,000, for assistance from the state received
by a licensed physician;
(2) $80,000, for assistance from the state received
by:
(A) a psychologist;
(B) a licensed clinical social worker, if the
social worker has received a doctoral degree related to social
work; or
(C) a licensed professional counselor, if the
counselor has received a doctoral degree related to counseling;
(3) $60,000, for assistance from the state received by
an advanced practice registered nurse; [and]
(4) $40,000, for assistance from the state received by
a licensed clinical social worker or a licensed professional
counselor who is not described by Subdivision (2); and
(5) $10,000, for assistance from the state received by
a licensed chemical dependency counselor, if the chemical
dependency counselor has received an associate degree related to
chemical dependency counseling or behavioral science.
SECTION 4. The heading to Section 61.608, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 61.608. RULES; ADMINISTRATION.
SECTION 5. Section 61.608, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
(c) The board shall adopt rules establishing a process for
allocating any unused funds under the program in accordance with
Section 61.604(d).
(d) The board shall administer the program under this
subchapter in a manner that maximizes any matching funds available
through the state loan repayment program under the National Health
Service Corps program of the United States Department of Health and
Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration.
SECTION 6. Section 61.609, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.609. SOLICITATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS. (a) The
board may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any public or
private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
(b) The board annually shall seek the maximum amount of
funds available through the state loan repayment program under the
National Health Service Corps program of the United States
Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and
Services Administration.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.