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Amend CSSB 6 (House Committee Report) by adding the following
appropriately numbered SECTIONS to ARTICLE 1 of the bill and
renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 1 of the bill
appropriately:
SECTION ___. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter EE to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER EE. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN SOCIAL WORKER EDUCATION LOANS
IN CERTAIN COUNTIES; PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 61.9741. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only
to a county with a population of less than two million in which a
municipality with a population of more than one million is located.
Sec. 61.9742. REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. (a) The
board shall establish a pilot program under which the board
provides, in accordance with this subchapter and board rules,
assistance in the repayment of education loans for social workers
who apply and qualify for the assistance.
(b) The provision of financial assistance in the repayment
of education loans under this subchapter promotes a public purpose.
Sec. 61.9743. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive
repayment assistance, a person:
(1) must apply to the board;
(2) must have graduated from an accredited public or
private institution of higher education in or outside this state
with a baccalaureate or graduate degree in social work;
(3) must currently work as an entry-level investigator
for the Department of Family and Protective Services and have
worked in that position for at least one year; and
(4) may not have received any funds from the
Department of Family and Protective Services available under Title
IV-D, federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 670 et seq.).
Sec. 61.9744. LIMITATIONS. The amount of loan repayment
assistance received by a social worker under this subchapter in one
year may not exceed the lesser of $3,300 or 20 percent of the total
amount of the social worker's outstanding education loans,
including scheduled interest payments that would become due if the
loan is not prepaid, when the social worker enters into the
agreement.
Sec. 61.9745. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
repayment assistance for the repayment of any education loan
received by the social worker through any lender for education
while enrolled at an institution of higher education described by
Section 61.9743(2) in a baccalaureate or graduate degree program in
social work.
(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for an
education loan that is in default at the time of the social worker's
application.
Sec. 61.9746. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
repayment assistance made under this subchapter in a lump sum
payable to the lender and the social worker and in accordance with
any applicable federal law.
(b) Loan repayment assistance received under this
subchapter may be applied to the principal amount of the loan and to
interest that accrues.
Sec. 61.9747. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The board may appoint an
advisory committee from outside the board's membership to assist
the board in performing the board's duties under this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9748. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS. The board may solicit
and accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this
subchapter.
Sec. 61.9749. RULES. The board shall adopt rules necessary
for the administration of this subchapter.
Sec. 61.9750. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than
December 1, 2008, the board shall submit to the legislature a report
regarding the loan repayment assistance pilot program administered
by the board under this subchapter. The report must include:
(1) the number of persons receiving loan repayment
assistance under this subchapter;
(2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot
program in encouraging social workers to maintain employment with
the Department of Family and Protective Services and any other
benefits or problems that result from the pilot program; and
(3) the board's recommendations regarding the
elimination, continuation, or expansion of the pilot program.
Sec. 61.9751. EXPIRATION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
expires September 1, 2009.
SECTION ___. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt the rules for the repayment assistance pilot program
under Subchapter EE, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this
Act, not later than December 1, 2005.