Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2300 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
	1	+	86R11863 MM-F
1	2		By: Powell S.B. No. 2300
2		-	(In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2019; March 21, 2019, read
3		-	first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
4		-	April 25, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
5		-	Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 25, 2019,
6		-	sent to printer.)
7		-	Click here to see the committee vote
8		-	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2300 By: Menéndez
9	3
10	4
11	5		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
12	6		AN ACT
13	7		relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain nurses
14	8		employed by a long-term care facility.
15	9		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
16	10		SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
17	11		Subchapter N to read as follows:
18	12		SUBCHAPTER N. REPAYMENT OF EDUCATION LOANS FOR CERTAIN NURSES
19	13		Sec. 61.731. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The
20	14		board shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board
21	15		rules, assistance in the repayment of eligible student loans for
22	16		eligible nurses who apply and qualify for the assistance.
23	17		Sec. 61.732. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan
24	18		repayment assistance under this subchapter, a nurse must:
25	19		(1) apply to the board in a manner prescribed by the
26	20		board;
27	21		(2) be an advanced practice registered nurse,
28	22		registered nurse, or licensed vocational nurse; and
29	23		(3) at the time of application for repayment
30	24		assistance have been employed full-time for at least one year by,
31	25		and currently be employed full-time by:
32	26		(A) a convalescent or nursing facility, as
33	27		defined by Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code; or
34	28		(B) a continuing care facility, as defined by
35	29		Chapter 246, Health and Safety Code.
36	30		Sec. 61.733. LIMITATIONS. A nurse may receive loan
37	31		repayment assistance under this subchapter for not more than five
38	32		years.
39	33		Sec. 61.734. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
40	34		loan repayment assistance under this subchapter for the repayment
41	35		of any student loan for education at an institution of higher
42	36		education, a private or independent institution of higher
43	37		education, or a public or private out-of-state institution of
44	38		higher education accredited by a recognized accrediting agency,
45	39		including loans for undergraduate education, received by an
46	40		eligible person through any lender.
47	41		(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
48	42		student loan that is in default at the time of the person's
49	43		application.
50	44		(c) In each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt
51	45		to allocate all funds appropriated to the board for the purpose of
52	46		providing loan repayment assistance under this subchapter.
53	47		Sec. 61.735. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
54	48		repayment under this subchapter in a lump sum payable:
55	49		(1) to both the lender or other holder of the loan and
56	50		the nurse; or
57	51		(2) directly to the lender or other holder of the loan
58	52		on the nurse's behalf.
59	53		(b) A repayment under this subchapter may be applied to any
60	54		amount due in connection with the loan.
61	55		Sec. 61.736. AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. (a) A nurse
62	56		may receive loan repayment assistance under this subchapter for
63	57		each year the nurse establishes eligibility for the assistance in
64	58		an amount determined by the board.
65	59		(b) The total amount of loan repayment assistance provided
66	60		under this subchapter may not exceed the sum of:
67	61		(1) the total amount of gifts and grants accepted by
68	62		the board for the repayment assistance;
69	63		(2) legislative appropriations for the repayment
70	64		assistance; and
71	65		(3) other funds available to the board for the
72	66		repayment assistance.
73	67		(c) The board may adjust in an equitable manner the
74	68		distribution amounts that nurses would otherwise receive under
75	69		Subsection (a) for a year as necessary to comply with Subsection
76	70		(b).
77	71		Sec. 61.737. RULES; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The board shall
78	72		adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter.
79	73		(b) The board shall distribute to each institution of higher
80	74		education or private or independent institution of higher education
81	75		and to any appropriate state agency and professional association
82	76		copies of the rules adopted under this section and other pertinent
83	77		information relating to this subchapter.
84	78		(c) The board shall administer the program under this
85	79		subchapter in a manner that maximizes any matching funds available
86	80		through other sources.
87	81		(d) A reasonable amount, not to exceed three percent, of any
88	82		money appropriated for purposes of this subchapter may be used to
89	83		pay the costs of administering this subchapter.
90	84		Sec. 61.738. SOLICITATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS. The
91	85		board may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any public or
92	86		private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
93		-	SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is
94		-	required to provide assistance in the repayment of eligible student
95		-	loans for eligible nurses as provided by this Act only if the
96		-	legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
97		-	the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
98		-	purpose, the board may, but is not required to, provide assistance
99		-	in the repayment of eligible student loans for eligible nurses as
100		-	provided by this Act using other appropriations available for that
101		-	purpose.
102		-	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
103		-	* * * * *
	87	+	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.