BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3579

By: Gonzales, Larry

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Certain physicians who provide health care services to certain recipients are currently eligible to receive educational loan repayment assistance from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, but only toward the principal of such a loan. According to interested parties, the coordinating board has noticed that some lenders are not applying payments to the principal. H.B. 3579 seeks to allow the coordinating board to make physician loan repayments to the entire balance of a loan.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3579 repeals Section 61.535(b), Education Code, limiting the application of a repayment of certain physician education loans to the principal amount of the loan.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.