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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain nurses |
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employed by a long-term care facility. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter N to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER N. REPAYMENT OF EDUCATION LOANS FOR CERTAIN NURSES |
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Sec. 61.731. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The |
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board shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board |
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rules, assistance in the repayment of eligible student loans for |
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eligible nurses who apply and qualify for the assistance. |
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Sec. 61.732. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan |
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repayment assistance under this subchapter, a nurse must: |
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(1) apply to the board in a manner prescribed by the |
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board; |
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(2) be an advanced practice registered nurse, |
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registered nurse, or licensed vocational nurse; and |
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(3) at the time of application for repayment |
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assistance have been employed full-time for at least one year by, |
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and currently be employed full-time by: |
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(A) a convalescent or nursing facility, as |
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defined by Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code; or |
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(B) a continuing care facility, as defined by |
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Chapter 246, Health and Safety Code. |
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Sec. 61.733. LIMITATIONS. A nurse may receive loan |
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repayment assistance under this subchapter for not more than five |
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years. |
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Sec. 61.734. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide |
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loan repayment assistance under this subchapter for the repayment |
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of any student loan for education at an institution of higher |
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education, a private or independent institution of higher |
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education, or a public or private out-of-state institution of |
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higher education accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, |
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including loans for undergraduate education, received by an |
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eligible person through any lender. |
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(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a |
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student loan that is in default at the time of the person's |
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application. |
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(c) In each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt |
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to allocate all funds appropriated to the board for the purpose of |
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providing loan repayment assistance under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.735. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any |
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repayment under this subchapter in a lump sum payable: |
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(1) to both the lender or other holder of the loan and |
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the nurse; or |
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(2) directly to the lender or other holder of the loan |
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on the nurse's behalf. |
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(b) A repayment under this subchapter may be applied to any |
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amount due in connection with the loan. |
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Sec. 61.736. AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. (a) A nurse |
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may receive loan repayment assistance under this subchapter in an |
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amount determined by the board, not to exceed $5,000 for each year |
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the nurse establishes eligibility for the assistance. |
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(b) The total amount of loan repayment assistance provided |
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under this subchapter may not exceed the sum of: |
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(1) the total amount of gifts and grants accepted by |
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the board for the repayment assistance; |
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(2) legislative appropriations for the repayment |
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assistance; and |
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(3) other funds available to the board for the |
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repayment assistance. |
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(c) The board may adjust in an equitable manner the |
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distribution amounts that nurses would otherwise receive under |
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Subsection (a) for a year as necessary to comply with Subsection |
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(b). |
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(d) The total amount of loan repayment assistance awarded |
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under this section may not exceed $6 million in a state fiscal |
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biennium. |
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Sec. 61.737. RULES; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The board shall |
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adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter. |
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(b) The board shall distribute to each institution of higher |
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education or private or independent institution of higher education |
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and to any appropriate state agency and professional association |
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copies of the rules adopted under this section and other pertinent |
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information relating to this subchapter. |
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(c) The board shall administer the program under this |
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subchapter in a manner that maximizes any matching funds available |
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through other sources. |
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(d) A reasonable amount, not to exceed three percent, of any |
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money appropriated for purposes of this subchapter may be used to |
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pay the costs of administering this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.738. SOLICITATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS. The |
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board may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any public or |
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private source for the purposes of this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is |
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required to provide assistance in the repayment of eligible student |
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loans for eligible nurses as provided by this Act only if the |
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legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If |
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the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that |
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purpose, the board may, but is not required to, provide assistance |
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in the repayment of eligible student loans for eligible nurses as |
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provided by this Act using other appropriations available for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |