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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 certain |
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professionals employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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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 GG to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER GG. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL |
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EMPLOYEES OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE |
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Sec. 61.9801. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice. |
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(2) "Eligible profession" means the profession of |
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social work or psychology or another profession designated by the |
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department because members of that profession are qualified to |
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offer services for which the department has determined a need |
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exists in the department's workforce. |
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(3) "Eligible professional" means a person who holds |
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an appropriate license or certification required to practice an |
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eligible profession. |
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Sec. 61.9802. 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 eligible |
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professionals who apply and qualify for assistance. |
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Sec. 61.9803. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive |
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repayment assistance, an eligible professional must: |
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(1) apply to the board; |
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(2) at the time the eligible professional applies for |
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the assistance, have been employed in the profession on which the |
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professional's eligibility is based for at least one year by the |
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department and be currently employed full-time in that profession |
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by the department; and |
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(3) comply with any other requirements adopted by |
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board rule under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.9804. LIMITATION. (a) On qualifying for the |
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assistance, an eligible professional may receive repayment |
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assistance grants for each year of employment by the department, |
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not to exceed five years. |
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(b) The amount of repayment assistance grants that an |
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eligible professional may receive for each year of employment by |
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the department may not exceed 20 percent of the eligible |
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professional's total outstanding principal amount of student loans |
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as of the time the person initially applies for the assistance. |
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Sec. 61.9805. DESIGNATION OF ELIGIBLE PROFESSION. The |
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department shall notify the board, in the time and manner specified |
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by the board, of any profession the department designates as an |
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eligible profession for purposes of this subchapter. |
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Sec. 61.9806. 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 an eligible professional |
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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 eligible |
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professional'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. 61.9807. 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 or holder of the loan and the eligible professional, or may |
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deliver the repayment directly to the lender or loan holder on |
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behalf of the eligible professional, 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 to |
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the principal amount of the loan and to any interest that becomes |
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due on the loan. |
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Sec. 61.9808. 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. 61.9809. 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. 61.9810. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules |
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necessary for the administration of this subchapter. |
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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) the department; and |
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(3) any appropriate professional association. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |