By Lewis of Tarrant H.B. No. 2292
77R8190 KEL-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to tuition assistance for certain students enrolled in
1-3 counseling degree programs who agree to counsel the criminal
1-4 justice population of this state.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-7 Subchapter X to read as follows:
1-8 SUBCHAPTER X. OTHER FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
1-9 Sec. 61.9501. TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN
1-10 COUNSELING DEGREE PROGRAMS. (a) In this section:
1-11 (1) "Licensed counselor" means:
1-12 (A) a licensed psychologist;
1-13 (B) a licensed professional counselor;
1-14 (C) a licensed chemical dependency counselor; or
1-15 (D) a licensed social worker.
1-16 (2) "Secure correctional facility" has the meaning
1-17 assigned by Section 1.07, Penal Code.
1-18 (b) The board shall establish and administer a tuition
1-19 assistance program for students enrolled in undergraduate or
1-20 graduate counseling degree programs at institutions of higher
1-21 education who agree, following licensure as a licensed counselor,
1-22 to practice in their licensed fields by providing services to the
1-23 criminal justice population in a secure correctional facility in
1-24 this state.
2-1 (c) The board shall establish and administer the tuition
2-2 assistance program in a manner that the board determines best
2-3 promotes the needs of the criminal justice population in secure
2-4 correctional facilities in this state consistent with the policies
2-5 and practices of the authorities administering those facilities.
2-6 The board shall determine the amount of tuition assistance that a
2-7 student may receive as the board considers appropriate in order to
2-8 maximize the effectiveness of the program, considering the amount
2-9 of money available for the program.
2-10 (d) The board shall adopt rules necessary for the
2-11 administration of this section, including rules providing:
2-12 (1) eligibility requirements;
2-13 (2) the maximum amount of any tuition assistance
2-14 available;
2-15 (3) the amount of time a student agrees to practice in
2-16 a secure correctional facility;
2-17 (4) circumstances under which the board may cancel a
2-18 student's secure correctional facility work obligation;
2-19 (5) circumstances under which a student will be
2-20 required to repay the amount of the tuition assistance plus
2-21 applicable interest and reasonable collection costs because of the
2-22 student's failure to satisfy the conditions of the assistance; and
2-23 (6) a method for computing the amount of money
2-24 required to be repaid by a student who fails to satisfy the
2-25 conditions of the tuition assistance.
2-26 (e) Once the student completes all courses required for
2-27 licensure, the student must begin fulfilling the secure
3-1 correctional facility work obligation not later than a time
3-2 specified by board rule, unless the board grants the student, on a
3-3 showing of good cause, additional time to begin fulfilling the work
3-4 obligation. The student must complete the secure correctional
3-5 facility work obligation within a period determined by board rule,
3-6 unless the board grants the student, on a showing of good cause,
3-7 additional time to complete the work obligation.
3-8 (f) The board shall require a student who receives tuition
3-9 assistance under this section to sign a promissory note
3-10 acknowledging the conditional nature of the tuition assistance and
3-11 promising to repay the amount of the tuition assistance plus
3-12 applicable interest and reasonable collection costs if the student
3-13 does not satisfy the applicable secure correctional facility work
3-14 obligation within the required time or other conditions of the
3-15 assistance. The board shall determine the terms of the promissory
3-16 note.
3-17 (g) The legislature may appropriate money for the purposes
3-18 of this section. The board may accept gifts, grants, and donations
3-19 from any public or private source for the purposes of this section.
3-20 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect immediately if it
3-21 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
3-22 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
3-23 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
3-24 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
3-25 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
3-26 establish the tuition assistance program under Section 61.9501,
3-27 Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as the board
4-1 considers practicable.