86R1583 AAF-F

By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 74

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring a public employer to give notice to new employees of the ability of certain employees to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 620 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 620. NOTICE OF PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM

Sec. 620.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "public employer" means:

(1) a county, a municipality, or another political subdivision of this state, including a school district; or

(2) a board, a commission, an office, a department, or another agency in the executive, judicial, or legislative branch of state government, including an institution of higher education.

Sec. 620.002. NOTICE OF PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM. Not later than the 30th day after the date on which an employee begins employment with a public employer, the employer shall provide written notice to the employee of the ability of eligible employees of the employer to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program administered by the United States Department of Education. A public employer may deliver a written notice under this section to an employee by hand delivery, mail, e-mail, or other form of electronic communication commonly used by the employer to communicate with employees.

SECTION 2. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, Chapter 620, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies to an employee who begins employment on or after the effective date of this Act.

(b) A public employer, as defined by Section 620.001, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall provide the written notice described by Section 620.002, Government Code, as added by this Act, to an employee employed by the employer on the effective date of this Act not later than September 9, 2019.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.