1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to tuition assistance for licensed vocational nursing 1-3 students who agree following their licensure to practice in 1-4 long-term care facilities. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter L, Chapter 61, Education Code, is 1-7 amended by adding Section 61.659 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 61.659. TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR VOCATIONAL NURSING 1-9 STUDENTS AGREEING TO PRACTICE IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. 1-10 (a) In this section, "long-term care facility" means: 1-11 (1) an ICF-MR, as defined by Section 531.002, Health 1-12 and Safety Code; 1-13 (2) a nursing facility; 1-14 (3) a residential facility licensed by the Department 1-15 of Protective and Regulatory Services; or 1-16 (4) another residential arrangement that provides care 1-17 to four or more children or adults who are unrelated to each other. 1-18 (b) In addition to any other financial aid program 1-19 established under this subchapter, the board shall establish and 1-20 administer a tuition assistance program for vocational nursing 1-21 students attending any school or program in this state who agree, 1-22 following licensure as a licensed vocational nurse, to practice in 1-23 a long-term care facility in this state. 1-24 (c) The board shall establish and administer the tuition 1-25 assistance program in a manner that the board determines best 2-1 promotes the needs of clients of long-term care facilities in this 2-2 state. The board shall determine the amount of tuition assistance 2-3 that a student may receive as the board considers appropriate in 2-4 order to maximize the effectiveness of the program, considering the 2-5 amount of money available for the program. 2-6 (d) The board shall adopt rules necessary for the 2-7 administration of this section, including rules providing: 2-8 (1) eligibility requirements; 2-9 (2) the maximum amount of any tuition assistance 2-10 available; 2-11 (3) the amount of time a student agrees to practice in 2-12 a long-term care facility; 2-13 (4) circumstances under which the board may cancel a 2-14 student's long-term care facility work obligation; 2-15 (5) circumstances under which a student will be 2-16 required to repay the amount of the tuition assistance plus 2-17 applicable interest and reasonable collection costs because of the 2-18 student's failure to satisfy the conditions of the assistance; and 2-19 (6) a method for computing the amount of money 2-20 required to be repaid by a student who fails to satisfy the 2-21 conditions of the tuition assistance. 2-22 (e) Once the student completes all courses required for 2-23 licensure, the student must begin fulfilling the long-term care 2-24 facility work obligation not later than a time specified by board 2-25 rule, unless the board grants the student, on a showing of good 2-26 cause, additional time to begin fulfilling the work obligation. 3-1 The student must complete the long-term care facility work 3-2 obligation within a period determined by board rule, unless the 3-3 board grants the student, on a showing of good cause, additional 3-4 time to complete the work obligation. 3-5 (f) The board shall require a person who receives tuition 3-6 assistance under this section to sign a promissory note 3-7 acknowledging the conditional nature of the tuition assistance and 3-8 promising to repay the amount of the tuition assistance plus 3-9 applicable interest and reasonable collection costs if the person 3-10 does not satisfy the applicable long-term care facility work 3-11 obligation within the required time or other conditions of the 3-12 assistance. The board shall determine the terms of the promissory 3-13 note. 3-14 (g) The board shall consult with the advisory committee 3-15 appointed under Section 61.657(b) concerning assistance provided 3-16 under this section to vocational nursing students. Section 3-17 61.657(c) also applies to this section. 3-18 (h) The legislature may appropriate money for the purposes 3-19 of this section. The board may accept gifts, grants, and donations 3-20 from any public or private source for the purposes of this section. 3-21 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect immediately if it 3-22 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each 3-23 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. 3-24 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate 3-25 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 3-26 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall 4-1 establish the tuition assistance program under Section 61.659, 4-2 Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as the board 4-3 determines practicable. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 40 passed the Senate on April 20, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 0, one present, not voting. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 40 passed the House on May 23, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, one present, not voting. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Governor