83R3014 AED-D
 
  By: Dukes H.B. No. 969
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain child
  protective services workers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter II to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER II. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
  CASEWORKER LOANS
         Sec. 61.9851.  REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. (a) The
  board may provide, using funds appropriated for that purpose and in
  accordance with this subchapter and board rules, assistance in the
  repayment of student loans for persons who apply and qualify for the
  assistance.
         (b)  The provision of financial assistance in the repayment
  of student loans under this subchapter promotes a public purpose.
         Sec. 61.9852.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive
  repayment assistance, a child protective services caseworker must:
               (1)  apply to the board; and
               (2)  have been employed for at least one year as, and be
  currently employed full-time as, a direct delivery caseworker at
  the Department of Family and Protective Services.
         Sec. 61.9853.  AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE; LIMITATION.
  (a) For each year that a child protective services caseworker is
  employed full-time and serves as a direct delivery caseworker at
  the Department of Family and Protective Services, the caseworker
  may receive repayment assistance under this subchapter in an amount
  not to exceed $5,000.
         (b)  A child protective services caseworker may not receive
  repayment assistance under this subchapter for more than four
  years.
         (c)  If money will not be sufficient to provide repayment
  assistance to each eligible applicant, the board shall award
  repayment assistance to eligible applicants by prioritizing awards
  to applicants employed in regions of this state experiencing the
  highest turnover.
         Sec. 61.9854.  ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
  repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for
  education at a public or private institution of higher education,
  including loans for undergraduate and graduate education, issued
  through any lender.
         (b)  The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
  student loan that is in default at the time of the caseworker's
  application.
         Sec. 61.9855.  REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
  repayment assistance made under this subchapter in a lump sum
  directly to the lender and in accordance with any applicable
  federal law.
         (b)  Repayment assistance received under this subchapter may
  be applied to the principal amount of the loan and to interest that
  accrues.
         Sec. 61.9856.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The board may appoint an
  advisory committee from outside the board's membership to assist
  the board in performing its duties under this subchapter.
         Sec. 61.9857.  FUNDING. (a) The repayment assistance
  program established by this subchapter is funded from the child
  protective services caseworker student loan assistance trust fund.
  The trust fund is established outside the treasury and is
  administered by the comptroller. Money in the trust fund may be
  spent without appropriation and only to fund the program. Interest
  and income from the assets of the trust fund shall be credited to
  and deposited in the trust fund.
         (b)  The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
  donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this
  subchapter and shall deposit money accepted under this subsection
  to the credit of the trust fund.
         (c)  The legislature may appropriate money to the trust fund.
         Sec. 61.9858.  RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules
  necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including a
  rule that establishes the amount of repayment assistance awarded to
  a caseworker each year.
         (b)  The board shall distribute to each institution of higher
  education, the Department of Family and Protective Services, and
  appropriate professional associations copies of the rules adopted
  under this section and pertinent information in this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt the rules for the repayment assistance program under
  Subchapter II, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, not
  later than December 1, 2013.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.