HBA-KDB H.B. 2898 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2898
By: Burnam
Higher Education
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The employment turnover rate for child protective services caseworkers at
the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (PRS) was 26.5 percent
in 2000.  This  requires PRS to train more caseworkers to fill the open
positions, which can be expensive.  This high turnover rate and resulting
training costs may result in a depletion in funds that PRS could otherwise
use for PRS initiatives.  House Bill 2898 authorizes the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board to provide loan repayment assistance for
graduates from accredited social work programs who work for PRS. 
  
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board in SECTION 1 (Section 61.958, Education Code) and SECTION 2 of this
bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2898 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (board) to provide assistance in the repayment
of education loans for social workers who apply and qualify for the
assistance.  To be eligible to receive repayment assistance, a person must
apply to the board, have graduated from an accredited institution of higher
education with a degree in social work, and currently work as a social
worker for the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.  The bill
authorizes a social worker to receive repayment assistance grants for not
more than five years in an annual amount not to exceed 20 percent of the
social worker's outstanding education loan amount at the time of the
agreement.  The bill authorizes the board to provide repayment assistance
for the repayment of any education loan received by the social worker while
enrolled at an institution of higher education in a degree program in
social work.  The bill prohibits the board from providing repayment
assistance for an education loan that is in default at the time of the
social worker's application.  The bill requires the board to deliver any
repayment assistance in a lump sum payable to the lender and the social
worker and in accordance with any applicable federal law.  The bill
authorizes the board to appoint an advisory committee to assist the board
in performing the board's duties in relation to social worker repayment
assistance.  The bill requires the board to adopt, not later than December
1, 2001,  rules necessary for the administration of social worker repayment
assistance. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.