By Hodge H.B. No. 2392
75R6970 JSA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain dentists.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-5 Subchapter S to read as follows:
1-6 SUBCHAPTER S. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN
1-7 DENTAL EDUCATION LOANS
1-8 Sec. 61.901. REPAYMENT AUTHORIZED. The board may provide,
1-9 using funds appropriated for that purpose and in accordance with
1-10 this subchapter and rules of the board, assistance in the repayment
1-11 of student loans for dentists who apply and qualify for the
1-12 assistance.
1-13 Sec. 61.902. ELIGIBILITY. (a) To be eligible to receive
1-14 repayment assistance, a dentist must apply to the board and have
1-15 completed at least one year of dental practice:
1-16 (1) in an area of the state that is underserved with
1-17 respect to dental care; or
1-18 (2) in a general practice residency training program
1-19 or advanced education general dentistry training program approved
1-20 by the board on the basis of the program's commitment to indigent
1-21 dental care or training of general practice dentists.
1-22 (b) The board by rule may provide for repayment assistance
1-23 on a pro rata basis for dentists in part-time practice described by
1-24 Subsection (a).
2-1 Sec. 61.903. LIMITATION. A dentist may receive repayment
2-2 assistance grants for each of not more than five years.
2-3 Sec. 61.904. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
2-4 repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for
2-5 education at an institution of higher education, including loans
2-6 for undergraduate education, received by a dentist through any
2-7 lender.
2-8 (b) The board may withhold repayment assistance for a
2-9 student loan that is in default at the time of the dentist's
2-10 application.
2-11 (c) Each fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt to
2-12 allocate all funds appropriated to it for the purpose of providing
2-13 repayment assistance under this subchapter.
2-14 Sec. 61.905. REPAYMENT. (a) The coordinating board shall
2-15 deliver any repayment made under this subchapter in a lump sum
2-16 payable to the lender and the dentist, in accordance with any
2-17 applicable federal law.
2-18 (b) A repayment made under this subchapter may be applied to
2-19 any amount due in connection with the loan.
2-20 Sec. 61.906. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The board may:
2-21 (1) appoint advisory committees from outside the
2-22 board's membership to assist the board in performing its duties
2-23 under this subchapter; and
2-24 (2) request the assistance of the Oral Health Services
2-25 Advisory Committee in performing those duties.
2-26 Sec. 61.907. ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS. The board may accept
2-27 gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this subchapter.
3-1 Sec. 61.908. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules
3-2 necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including a
3-3 rule that sets a maximum amount of repayment assistance that may be
3-4 received by a dentist in one year. The board may consult with the
3-5 Oral Health Services Advisory Committee to assist the board in
3-6 establishing priorities among eligible dentists for repayment
3-7 assistance, taking into account the degree of an area's shortage of
3-8 dental services, geographic locations, whether the dentist is or
3-9 will be providing service in an underserved area with respect to
3-10 dental services, and other criteria the board considers
3-11 appropriate.
3-12 (b) The coordinating board shall distribute to each dental
3-13 school in this state and to appropriate state agencies and
3-14 professional associations copies of the rules adopted under this
3-15 section and other pertinent information relating to this
3-16 subchapter.
3-17 Sec. 61.909. TOTAL AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. The
3-18 total amount of repayment assistance distributed by the board under
3-19 this subchapter may not exceed the total amount of gifts and grants
3-20 accepted by the board for repayment assistance, dental school
3-21 tuition set aside under Section 61.910, legislative appropriations
3-22 for repayment assistance, and other funds available to the board
3-23 for purposes of this subchapter.
3-24 Sec. 61.910. DENTAL SCHOOL TUITION SET ASIDE FOR CERTAIN
3-25 LOAN REPAYMENTS. (a) The governing board of each dental school of
3-26 an institution of higher education shall set aside two percent of
3-27 tuition charges for resident students enrolled in a degree program
4-1 for training dentists.
4-2 (b) The amount set aside shall be transferred to the
4-3 comptroller of public accounts to be maintained in the state
4-4 treasury for the sole purpose of repayment of student loans of
4-5 dentists under this subchapter. Section 403.095(b), Government
4-6 Code, does not apply to the amount set aside by this section.
4-7 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
4-8 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
4-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.