Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB146 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Powell S.B. No. 146
2	2
3	3
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain nurses
7	7	employed by a long-term care facility.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
10	10	Subchapter N to read as follows:
11	11	SUBCHAPTER N. REPAYMENT OF EDUCATION LOANS FOR CERTAIN NURSES
12	12	Sec. 61.731. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The
13	13	board shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board
14	14	rules, assistance in the repayment of eligible student loans for
15	15	eligible nurses who apply and qualify for the assistance.
16	16	Sec. 61.732. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan
17	17	repayment assistance under this subchapter, a nurse must:
18	18	(1) apply to the board in a manner prescribed by the
19	19	board;
20	20	(2) be an advanced practice registered nurse,
21	21	registered nurse, or licensed vocational nurse; and
22	22	(3) at the time of application for repayment
23	23	assistance have been employed full-time for at least one year by,
24	24	and currently be employed full-time by:
25	25	(A) a convalescent or nursing facility, as
26	26	defined by Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code; or
27	27	(B) a continuing care facility, as defined by
28	28	Chapter 246, Health and Safety Code.
29	29	Sec. 61.733. LIMITATIONS. A nurse may receive loan
30	30	repayment assistance under this subchapter for not more than five
31	31	years.
32	32	Sec. 61.734. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
33	33	loan repayment assistance under this subchapter for the repayment
34	34	of any student loan for education at an institution of higher
35	35	education, a private or independent institution of higher
36	36	education, or a public or private out-of-state institution of
37	37	higher education accredited by a recognized accrediting agency,
38	38	including loans for undergraduate education, received by an
39	39	eligible person through any lender.
40	40	(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
41	41	student loan that is in default at the time of the person's
42	42	application.
43	43	(c) In each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt
44	44	to allocate all funds appropriated to the board for the purpose of
45	45	providing loan repayment assistance under this subchapter.
46	46	Sec. 61.735. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
47	47	repayment under this subchapter in a lump sum payable:
48	48	(1) to both the lender or other holder of the loan and
49	49	the nurse; or
50	50	(2) directly to the lender or other holder of the loan
51	51	on the nurse's behalf.
52	52	(b) A repayment under this subchapter may be applied to any
53	53	amount due in connection with the loan.
54	54	Sec. 61.736. AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. (a) A nurse
55	55	may receive loan repayment assistance under this subchapter in an
56	56	amount determined by the board, not to exceed $5,000 for each year
57	57	the nurse establishes eligibility for the assistance.
58	58	(b) The total amount of loan repayment assistance provided
59	59	under this subchapter may not exceed the sum of:
60	60	(1) the total amount of gifts and grants accepted by
61	61	the board for the repayment assistance;
62	62	(2) legislative appropriations for the repayment
63	63	assistance; and
64	64	(3) other funds available to the board for the
65	65	repayment assistance.
66	66	(c) The board may adjust in an equitable manner the
67	67	distribution amounts that nurses would otherwise receive under
68	68	Subsection (a) for a year as necessary to comply with Subsection
69	69	(b).
70	70	(d) The total amount of loan repayment assistance awarded
71	71	under this section may not exceed $6 million in a state fiscal
72	72	biennium.
73	73	Sec. 61.737. RULES; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The board shall
74	74	adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter.
75	75	(b) The board shall distribute to each institution of higher
76	76	education or private or independent institution of higher education
77	77	and to any appropriate state agency and professional association
78	78	copies of the rules adopted under this section and other pertinent
79	79	information relating to this subchapter.
80	80	(c) The board shall administer the program under this
81	81	subchapter in a manner that maximizes any matching funds available
82	82	through other sources.
83	83	(d) A reasonable amount, not to exceed three percent, of any
84	84	money appropriated for purposes of this subchapter may be used to
85	85	pay the costs of administering this subchapter.
86	86	Sec. 61.738. SOLICITATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS. The
87	87	board may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any public or
88	88	private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
89	89	SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is
90	90	required to provide assistance in the repayment of eligible student
91	91	loans for eligible nurses as provided by this Act only if the
92	92	legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
93	93	the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
94	94	purpose, the board may, but is not required to, provide assistance
95	95	in the repayment of eligible student loans for eligible nurses as
96	96	provided by this Act using other appropriations available for that
97	97	purpose.
98	98	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.