81R4721 SJM-D
 
  By: Guillen H.B. No. 4181
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain
  professionals employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter GG to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER GG. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL
  EMPLOYEES OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
         Sec. 61.9801.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice.
               (2)  "Eligible profession" means the profession of
  social work or psychology or another profession designated by the
  department because members of that profession are qualified to
  offer services for which the department has determined a need
  exists in the department's workforce.
               (3)  "Eligible professional" means a person who holds
  an appropriate license or certification required to practice an
  eligible profession.
         Sec. 61.9802.  REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The board
  shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board rules,
  assistance in the repayment of student loans for eligible
  professionals who apply and qualify for assistance.
         Sec. 61.9803.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive
  repayment assistance, an eligible professional must:
               (1)  apply to the board;
               (2)  at the time the eligible professional applies for
  the assistance, have been employed in the profession on which the
  professional's eligibility is based for at least one year by the
  department and be currently employed full-time in that profession
  by the department; and
               (3)  comply with any other requirements adopted by
  board rule under this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.9804.  LIMITATION. (a) On qualifying for the
  assistance, an eligible professional may receive repayment
  assistance grants for each year of employment by the department,
  not to exceed five years.
         (b)  The amount of repayment assistance grants that an
  eligible professional may receive for each year of employment by
  the department may not exceed 20 percent of the eligible
  professional's total outstanding principal amount of student loans
  as of the time the person initially applies for the assistance.
         Sec. 61.9805.  DESIGNATION OF ELIGIBLE PROFESSION. The
  department shall notify the board, in the time and manner specified
  by the board, of any profession the department designates as an
  eligible profession for purposes of this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.9806.  ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
  repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for
  education at an institution of higher education, including loans
  for undergraduate education, received by an eligible professional
  through any lender.
         (b)  The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
  student loan that is in default at the time of the eligible
  professional's application.
         (c)  Each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt to
  provide repayment assistance in amounts sufficient to use all the
  money appropriated to the board for that biennium for the purpose of
  providing repayment assistance under this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.9807.  REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
  repayment made under this subchapter in a lump sum payable to the
  lender or holder of the loan and the eligible professional, or may
  deliver the repayment directly to the lender or loan holder on
  behalf of the eligible professional, in accordance with any
  applicable federal law.
         (b)  A repayment made under this subchapter may be applied to
  the principal amount of the loan and to any interest that becomes
  due on the loan.
         Sec. 61.9808.  ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The board may appoint
  advisory committees to assist the board in administering this
  subchapter.
         Sec. 61.9809.  ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS. The board may accept
  gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.9810.  RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules
  necessary for the administration of this subchapter.
         (b)  The board shall distribute a copy of the rules adopted
  under this section and pertinent information regarding this
  subchapter to:
               (1)  each institution of higher education;
               (2)  the department; and
               (3)  any appropriate professional association.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.