Texas House Bill HB3119

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to funding sources for the repayment of certain speech-language pathologist and audiologist education loans.

Impact

The amendments introduced by HB3119 will have a notable impact on funding mechanisms for loan repayments, allowing leftover fees from administrative expenses to be redirected to support education loan repayment programs. This is significant in furthering the workforce capabilities of speech-language pathologists and audiologists, who often face financial challenges due to the costs associated with their education.

Summary

House Bill 3119 aims to provide funding sources for the repayment of education loans specifically targeting speech-language pathologists and audiologists. The bill alters existing sections of the Education Code and Occupations Code to allow for funding derived from fees collected for administering programs related to these professions. This measure is intended to alleviate the financial burden on professionals in the field and support workforce retention in critical health services.

Contention

While there are advocates for the bill who emphasize the importance of supporting healthcare professionals in obtaining and retaining quality practitioners, some may raise concerns regarding the sustainability of funding through collected fees. Opponents might question whether reliance on fee-derived funding is stable and sufficient in the long term, especially in light of potential fluctuations in program enrollment and fee collection.