86R9513 MM-F
By: Taylor S.B. No. 1892
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to student loan repayment assistance for school counselors
employed by a school district.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter LL to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER LL. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN SCHOOL COUNSELOR EDUCATION
LOANS
Sec. 61.9851. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The
board shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board
rules, assistance in the repayment of eligible student loans for
eligible school counselors who apply and qualify for the
assistance.
Sec. 61.9852. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan
repayment assistance under this subchapter, a school counselor
must:
(1) apply annually for the repayment assistance in a
manner prescribed by the board;
(2) be a United States citizen or permanent resident
alien;
(3) have earned at least a master's degree related to
counseling from any public or accredited private institution of
higher education;
(4) be certified as a school counselor under
Subchapter B, Chapter 21; and
(5) have completed one, two, three, four, or five
years of consecutive employment by a school district in this state:
(A) all or part of which is located in a federally
designated mental health care health professional shortage area; or
(B) at a school that receives federal funding
under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.).
Sec. 61.9853. LIMITATIONS. A school counselor may receive
loan repayment assistance under this subchapter for not more than
five years.
Sec. 61.9854. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
loan repayment assistance under this subchapter for the repayment
of any student loan for education at an institution of higher
education, a private or independent institution of higher
education, or a public or private out-of-state institution of
higher education accredited by a recognized accrediting agency,
including loans for undergraduate education, received by an
eligible person through any lender.
(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
student loan that is in default at the time of the person's
application.
(c) In each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt
to allocate all funds appropriated to the board for the purpose of
providing loan repayment assistance under this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9855. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
repayment under this subchapter in a lump sum payable:
(1) to both the lender or other holder of the loan and
the school counselor; or
(2) directly to the lender or other holder of the loan
on the school counselor's behalf.
(b) A repayment under this subchapter may be applied to any
amount due in connection with the loan.
Sec. 61.9856. AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. (a) A school
counselor may receive loan repayment assistance under this
subchapter for each year the school counselor establishes
eligibility for the assistance in an amount determined by applying
the following applicable percentage to the maximum total amount of
assistance allowed for the school counselor under Subsection (b):
(1) for the first year, 10 percent;
(2) for the second year, 15 percent;
(3) for the third year, 20 percent;
(4) for the fourth year, 25 percent; and
(5) for the fifth year, 30 percent.
(b) The total amount of repayment assistance received by a
school counselor under this subchapter may not exceed:
(1) $80,000, for assistance received by a school
counselor who holds a doctoral degree related to counseling; and
(2) $40,000, for assistance received by a school
counselor who holds a master's degree related to counseling.
(c) The total amount of loan repayment assistance provided
under this subchapter may not exceed the sum of:
(1) the total amount of gifts and grants accepted by
the board for the repayment assistance;
(2) legislative appropriations for the repayment
assistance; and
(3) other funds available to the board for the
repayment assistance.
(d) The board may adjust in an equitable manner the
distribution amounts that school counselors would otherwise
receive under Subsection (a) for a year as necessary to comply with
Subsection (c).
Sec. 61.9857. RULES; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The board shall
adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter.
(b) The board shall distribute to each institution of higher
education or private or independent institution of higher education
and to any appropriate state agency and professional association
copies of the rules adopted under this section and other pertinent
information relating to this subchapter.
(c) The board shall administer the program under this
subchapter in a manner that maximizes any matching funds available
through other sources.
Sec. 61.9858. SOLICITATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS. The
board may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any public or
private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.