By: Seliger, West S.B. No. 686

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Math and Science Scholars Loan Repayment Program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 61.9831, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.9831. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The board shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board rules, assistance in the repayment of eligible student loans for eligible persons who agree to teach mathematics or science for a specified period in schools [school districts] that receive federal funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.).

SECTION 2. Sections 61.9832(a) and (c), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) To be eligible to receive loan repayment assistance under this subchapter, a person must:

(1) apply annually for the loan repayment assistance in the manner prescribed by the board;

(2) be a United States citizen;

(3) have completed an undergraduate or graduate program in mathematics or science;

(4) have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent;

(5) be:

(A) certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, to teach mathematics or science in a public school in this state; or

(B) teaching under a probationary teaching certificate [be enrolled in an educator preparation program to obtain that certification that is accredited by the State Board for Educator Certification and is provided by an institution of higher education or by a private or independent institution of higher education in this state];

(6) have been employed for at least one year as a teacher teaching mathematics or science at a public school [located in a school district] that receives funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.);

(7) not be in default on any other education loan;

(8) not receive any other state or federal loan repayment assistance, including a Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant or teacher loan forgiveness;

(9) enter into an agreement with the board under Subsection (c); and

(10) comply with any other requirement adopted by the board under this subchapter.

(c) To receive loan repayment assistance under this subchapter, a person must enter into an agreement with the board that includes the following provisions:

(1) the person will accept an offer of full-time employment to teach mathematics or science, as applicable based on the person's certification, in a public school [located in a school district] that receives funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.);

(2) the person will complete four consecutive years of employment as a full-time classroom teacher in a school described by Subdivision (1) whose primary duty is to teach mathematics or science, as applicable, based on the person's certification;

(3) beginning with the school year immediately following the last of the four consecutive school years described by Subdivision (2), the person will complete four additional consecutive school years teaching in any public school in this state; and

(4) the person acknowledges the conditional nature of the loan repayment assistance.

SECTION 3. Section 61.9837(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The fund is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund and consists of:

(1) gifts, grants, and other donations received for the fund; [and]

(2) any amounts appropriated by the legislature for the fund; and

(3) interest and other earnings from the investment of the fund.

SECTION 4. Sections 61.9839(a) and (b), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) An eligible person may continue to receive loan repayment assistance if the person continues to teach in a public school that receives funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.), [described by Section 61.9832(a)(7)] after the first four years of teaching service required [for eligibility] under Section 61.9832(c)(2).

(b) If an eligible person transfers to a public school [located in a school district] that does not receive funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.), after the first four years required for eligibility under Section 61.9832(c)(2), the person may not receive more than 75 percent of the maximum annual amount of the loan repayment assistance as determined by the board.

SECTION 5. Section 61.9837(f), Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a loan repayment assistance agreement entered into under Subchapter II, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by Chapter 1229 (S.B. 1720), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, on or after the effective date of this Act. A loan repayment assistance agreement entered into before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.