1-1 By: Junell (Senate Sponsor - Duncan) H.B. No. 1575 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2001; 1-3 May 11, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Education; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain dental 1-9 hygienists. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-12 Subchapter X to read as follows: 1-13 SUBCHAPTER X. DENTAL HYGIENISTS STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM 1-14 Sec. 61.9401. REPAYMENT AUTHORIZED. The board may provide, 1-15 using funds appropriated for that purpose and in accordance with 1-16 this subchapter and rules of the board, assistance in the repayment 1-17 of student loans for dental hygienists who apply and qualify for 1-18 the assistance. 1-19 Sec. 61.9402. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive 1-20 repayment assistance, a dental hygienist must: 1-21 (1) apply to the board; 1-22 (2) have graduated from a dental hygiene degree or 1-23 certificate program at an institution of higher education; and 1-24 (3) have practiced dental hygiene under a license 1-25 issued under Chapter 256, Occupations Code, for at least one year 1-26 in an area of the state that is underserved with respect to dental 1-27 hygiene services. 1-28 Sec. 61.9403. LIMITATION. A dental hygienist may receive 1-29 repayment assistance grants for each of not more than five years. 1-30 Sec. 61.9404. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide 1-31 repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan received 1-32 by a dental hygienist through any lender for the costs of 1-33 attendance at an institution of higher education while enrolled in 1-34 any course work before the person received a degree or certificate 1-35 in dental hygiene or while enrolled in a dental hygiene program. 1-36 (b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a 1-37 student loan that is in default at the time of the dental 1-38 hygienist's application. 1-39 (c) Each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt to 1-40 allocate all funds appropriated to it for the purpose of providing 1-41 repayment assistance under this subchapter. 1-42 Sec. 61.9405. REPAYMENT. (a) The coordinating board shall 1-43 deliver any repayment made under this subchapter in a lump sum 1-44 payable to the lender and the dental hygienist, in accordance with 1-45 any applicable federal law. 1-46 (b) A repayment made under this subchapter may be applied to 1-47 any amount due in connection with the loan. 1-48 Sec. 61.9406. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The board may: 1-49 (1) appoint advisory committees to assist the board 1-50 in performing its duties under this subchapter; and 1-51 (2) request the assistance of the Oral Health Services 1-52 Advisory Committee in performing those duties. 1-53 Sec. 61.9407. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may 1-54 accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this 1-55 subchapter. 1-56 Sec. 61.9408. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules to 1-57 administer this subchapter, including a rule that sets a maximum 1-58 amount of repayment assistance that may be received by a dental 1-59 hygienist in one year. The board may consult with the Oral Health 1-60 Services Advisory Committee to assist the board in establishing 1-61 priorities among eligible dental hygienists for repayment 1-62 assistance, taking into account the degree of an area's shortage of 1-63 dental hygiene services, geographic locations, whether the dental 1-64 hygienist is or will be providing service in an underserved area 2-1 with respect to dental hygiene services, and other criteria the 2-2 board considers appropriate. 2-3 (b) The coordinating board shall distribute to each dental 2-4 hygiene school in this state and to appropriate state agencies and 2-5 professional associations copies of the rules adopted under this 2-6 section and other pertinent information relating to this 2-7 subchapter. 2-8 Sec. 61.9409. TOTAL AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. The 2-9 total amount of repayment assistance distributed by the board under 2-10 this subchapter may not exceed the total amount of gifts and grants 2-11 accepted by the board for repayment assistance, tuition set aside 2-12 under Section 61.9410, legislative appropriations for repayment 2-13 assistance, and other funds available to the board for purposes of 2-14 this subchapter. 2-15 Sec. 61.9410. TUITION SET ASIDE FOR CERTAIN LOAN REPAYMENTS. 2-16 (a) The governing board of each institution of higher education 2-17 authorized by the board to award a degree or certificate in dental 2-18 hygiene shall set aside two percent of tuition charges for resident 2-19 students enrolled in the degree program. 2-20 (b) The amount set aside shall be transferred to the 2-21 comptroller to be maintained in the state treasury for the sole 2-22 purpose of repayment of student loans of dental hygienists under 2-23 this subchapter. Section 403.095(b), Government Code, does not 2-24 apply to the amount set aside under this section. 2-25 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 2-26 SECTION 3. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 2-27 shall adopt the rules for repayment assistance under Subchapter X, 2-28 Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than 2-29 December 1, 2001. 2-30 * * * * *