BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3808

By: Clardy

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties suggest that licensed marriage and family therapists would benefit from student loan repayment assistance. H.B. 3808 seeks to provide greater access to such assistance.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 3808 amends the Education Code to make a licensed marriage and family therapist eligible for repayment assistance for certain mental health professional education loans, with the amount of such assistance capped at $80,000 if the therapist has received a doctoral degree related to marriage and family therapy and $40,000 if not.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.