85R11014 MM-F
 
  By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1509
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to eligibility requirements for the repayment of certain
  mental health professional education loans.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.601, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.601.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mental
  health professional" means:
               (1)  a licensed physician who is:
                     (A)  a graduate of an accredited psychiatric
  residency training program; or
                     (B)  certified in psychiatry by:
                           (i)  the American Board of Psychiatry and
  Neurology; or
                           (ii)  the American Osteopathic Board of
  Neurology and Psychiatry;
               (2)  a psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002,
  Occupations Code;
               (3)  a licensed professional counselor, as defined by
  Section 503.002, Occupations Code;
               (4)  an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined
  by Section 301.152, Occupations Code, who holds a nationally
  recognized board certification in psychiatric or mental health
  nursing; [and]
               (5)  a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by
  Section 505.002, Occupations Code; and
               (6)  a chemical dependency counselor, as defined by
  Section 504.001, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 61.603(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  To be eligible to receive repayment assistance under
  this subchapter, a mental health professional must:
               (1)  apply to the board;
               (2)  have completed [one,] two, three, four, or five
  consecutive years of practice in a mental health professional
  shortage area designated by the Department of State Health
  Services; and
               (3)  provide mental health services in this state to:
                     (A)  recipients under the medical assistance
  program authorized by Chapter 32, Human Resources Code;
                     (B)  enrollees under the child health plan program
  authorized by Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code; or
                     (C)  persons committed to a secure correctional
  facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Juvenile
  Justice Department or persons confined in a secure correctional
  facility operated by or under contract with any division of the
  Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 61.607(a) and (b), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A mental health professional may receive repayment
  assistance under this subchapter for each consecutive year the
  mental health professional establishes eligibility for the
  assistance in an amount determined by applying the following
  applicable percentage to the maximum total amount of assistance
  allowed for the mental health professional under Subsection (b):
               (1)  [for the first year, 10 percent;
               [(2)]  for the second year, 25 [15] percent;
               (2) [(3)]  for the third year, 20 percent;
               (3) [(4)]  for the fourth year, 25 percent; and
               (4) [(5)]  for the fifth year, 30 percent.
         (b)  The total amount of repayment assistance received by a
  mental health professional under this subchapter may not exceed:
               (1)  $160,000, for assistance received by a licensed
  physician;
               (2)  $80,000, for assistance received by:
                     (A)  a psychologist;
                     (B)  a licensed clinical social worker, if the
  social worker has received a doctoral degree related to social
  work; or
                     (C)  a licensed professional counselor, if the
  counselor has received a doctoral degree related to counseling;
               (3)  $60,000, for assistance received by an advanced
  practice registered nurse; [and]
               (4)  $40,000, for assistance received by a licensed
  clinical social worker or a licensed professional counselor who is
  not described by Subdivision (2); and
               (5)  $10,000, for assistance received by a licensed
  chemical dependency counselor, if the chemical dependency
  counselor has received an associate degree related to chemical
  dependency counseling or behavioral science.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
  61.603(a) and 61.607(a), Education Code, apply only to a person who
  first establishes eligibility for loan repayment assistance under
  Subchapter K, Chapter 61, Education Code, as amended by this Act, on
  the basis of an application submitted on or after September 1, 2017.
  A person who first establishes eligibility on the basis of an
  application submitted before September 1, 2017, is governed by the
  law in effect at the time the application was submitted, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.