84R1850 JSL-D
 
  By: West S.B. No. 358
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain employees
  of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter N to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER N.  REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF
  FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES EMPLOYEES
         Sec. 61.731.  REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The board
  shall establish a program to provide, using funds appropriated for
  that purpose and in accordance with this subchapter and rules of the
  board, assistance in the repayment of student loans for employees
  of the Department of Family and Protective Services who apply and
  qualify for the assistance.
         Sec. 61.732.  ELIGIBILITY. (a)  To be eligible to receive
  repayment assistance, a person must:
               (1)  apply to the board; and
               (2)  have been employed for at least one year as, and be
  currently employed full-time at the Department of Family and
  Protective Services as:
                     (A)  a child protective services family-based
  safety services caseworker;
                     (B)  a child protective services investigator;
                     (C)  a child-care licensing investigator or
  inspector; or
                     (D)  a residential child-care licensing
  investigator or inspector.
         (b)  In awarding repayment assistance to first-time
  applicants, the board shall give priority to applicants who
  demonstrate financial need.
         Sec. 61.733.  AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE; LIMITATION.
  (a)  For each year that a person meets the eligibility requirements
  provided by Section 61.732, the person may receive repayment
  assistance under this subchapter in an amount determined by board
  rule, not to exceed $2,500.
         (b)  A person may not receive repayment assistance under this
  subchapter for more than four years.
         (c)  If the money available for repayment assistance in a
  period for which assistance is awarded is insufficient to provide
  assistance to all eligible applicants described by Section
  61.732(b), 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. 61.734.  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 education 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 person's
  application.
         Sec. 61.735.  REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
  repayment assistance made under this subchapter in a lump sum
  directly to the lender or other holder of the loan on the person's
  behalf 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. 61.736.  FUNDING. (a)  The repayment assistance
  program established by this subchapter is funded only from
  appropriations made specifically to fund the program and from
  gifts, grants, and donations. The board shall attempt to provide
  repayment assistance in each state fiscal biennium in amounts
  sufficient to use all amounts appropriated for the program in that
  biennium.
         (b)  The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
  donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this
  subchapter.
         Sec. 61.737.  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
  eligible persons 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 N, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, not
  later than December 1, 2015.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.