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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 1758

By: Creighton

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The State of Texas currently provides specialized financial assistance programs, often through the form of loan repayment assistance, to students in degree programs in certain targeted employment fields. Concerns have been raised that these programs are not available to enough students. S.B. 1758 seeks to make certain of these financial assistance programs available to students at a nonprofit, tax-exempt, regionally accredited college or university operating in accordance with a memorandum of understanding with the state, such as Western Governors University-Texas.

 

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 13 of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

S.B. 1758 amends the Education Code to make the following programs available to a student at a nonprofit, tax-exempt, regionally accredited college or university operating in accordance with a memorandum of understanding with the state under an executive order issued by the governor to the same extent that the programs are available to a student at a public or private institution of higher education in Texas:

·         the program to provide for the repayment of certain mental health professional education loans;

·         the professional nursing shortage reduction program;

·         the Texas hospital-based nursing education partnership grant program;

·         the nursing faculty loan repayment assistance program; and

·         the math and science scholars loan repayment program.

 

S.B. 1758 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt any rules necessary to administer the bill's changes to law and prohibits the coordinating board from awarding grants under the professional nursing shortage reduction program, as provided by the bill, before June 1, 2021.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.