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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to student loan repayment assistance for speech-language |
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pathologists employed by a rural public school. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter EE to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER EE. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST |
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EDUCATION LOANS |
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Sec. 61.9751. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Public school" means a public preschool or |
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primary or secondary school in this state. |
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(2) "Speech-language pathologist" means a person |
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licensed as a speech-language pathologist under Chapter 401, |
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Occupations Code. |
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Sec. 61.9752. REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The board |
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shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board rules, |
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assistance in the repayment of student loans for speech-language |
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pathologists who apply and qualify for assistance. |
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Sec. 61.9753. ELIGIBILITY. (a) To be eligible to receive |
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repayment assistance, a speech-language pathologist must: |
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(1) apply to the board; and |
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(2) at the time the speech-language pathologist |
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applies for the assistance, have been employed as a speech-language |
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pathologist for at least one year by, and be currently employed |
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full-time by, a public school located in a rural community. |
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(b) The board by rule may provide for repayment assistance |
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on a pro rata basis for speech-language pathologists employed |
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part-time by a public school located in a rural community. |
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Sec. 61.9754. LIMITATION. (a) On qualifying for the |
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assistance, a speech-language pathologist may receive repayment |
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assistance grants for each year of employment by a public school |
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located in a rural community, not to exceed five years. |
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(b) The amount of repayment assistance grants that a |
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speech-language pathologist may receive for each year of employment |
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by a public school located in a rural community may not exceed 20 |
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percent of the speech-language pathologist's total principal |
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amount of student loans. |
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Sec. 61.9755. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide |
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repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for |
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education at an institution of higher education, including loans |
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for undergraduate education, received by a speech-language |
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pathologist through any lender. |
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(b) The board may not provide repayment assistance for a |
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student loan that is in default at the time of the speech-language |
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pathologist's application. |
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(c) Each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt to |
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provide repayment assistance in amounts sufficient to use all the |
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money appropriated to the board for that biennium for the purpose of |
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providing repayment assistance under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.9756. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any |
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repayment made under this subchapter in a lump sum payable to the |
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lender and the speech-language pathologist, in accordance with any |
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applicable federal law. |
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(b) A repayment made under this subchapter may be applied |
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only to the principal amount of the loan. |
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Sec. 61.9757. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The board may appoint |
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advisory committees to assist the board in administering this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.9758. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS. The board may accept |
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gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.9759. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules |
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necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including |
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rules relating to the definition of a rural community. |
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(b) The board shall distribute a copy of the rules adopted |
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under this section and pertinent information regarding this |
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subchapter to: |
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(1) each institution of higher education; |
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(2) any appropriate state agency; and |
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(3) any appropriate professional association. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |