87R2705 KJE-D
 
  By: Pacheco H.B. No. 546
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the application of certain occupation-related
  postsecondary educational financial aid and student loan repayment
  programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.605(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The board may provide repayment assistance under this
  subchapter for the repayment of any student loan, including a loan
  for undergraduate education, received by an eligible person through
  any lender for education at:
               (1)  an institution of higher education;
               (2)  [,] a private or independent institution of higher
  education;
               (3)  [, or] a public or private out-of-state
  institution of higher education accredited by a recognized
  accrediting agency; or
               (4)  a nonprofit, tax-exempt, regionally accredited
  college or university operating in accordance with a memorandum of
  understanding with this state under an executive order issued by
  the governor[, including loans for undergraduate education,
  received by an eligible person through any lender].
         SECTION 2.  Section 61.608(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The board shall distribute to each institution of higher
  education or private or independent institution of higher
  education, each college or university described by Section
  61.605(a)(4), and [to] any appropriate state agency and
  professional association copies of the rules adopted under this
  section and other pertinent information relating to this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 3.  Section 61.9621, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.9621.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter,
  "professional nursing program" means an educational program
  preparing students for initial licensure as registered nurses
  offered by:
               (1)  a public or private institution of higher
  education; or
               (2)  a nonprofit, tax-exempt, regionally accredited
  college or university operating in accordance with a memorandum of
  understanding with this state under an executive order issued by
  the governor [for preparing students for initial licensure as
  registered nurses].
         SECTION 4.  Section 61.96232(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The board by rule shall establish a process under which
  a public or private institution of higher education or an
  institution described by Section 61.9621(2) that offers a
  professional nursing program may apply for a grant under this
  subchapter and the commissioner of higher education, contingent on
  appropriations of money for the grants, selects one or more
  applicants to receive a grant based on criteria established by
  board rule.  The criteria must include the institution's agreement
  that the institution's professional nursing program will enroll
  additional students or graduate additional students prepared for
  initial licensure as registered nurses.
         SECTION 5.  Section 61.9751(2), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (2)  "Nursing education program" means:
                     (A)  an undergraduate professional nursing
  program or a graduate professional nursing program as those terms
  are defined by Section 54.355; and
                     (B)  a comparable nursing program offered by a
  nonprofit, tax-exempt, regionally accredited college or university
  operating in accordance with a memorandum of understanding with
  this state under an executive order issued by the governor.
         SECTION 6.  Section 61.9821, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.9821.  REPAYMENT AUTHORIZED.  The board shall
  establish and administer a program to provide, in accordance with
  this subchapter and board rules, assistance in the repayment of
  student loans for nurses who:
               (1)  are serving on the faculties of nursing degree
  programs at institutions to which this subchapter applies [of
  higher education or private or independent institutions of higher
  education] in positions that require an advanced degree in
  professional nursing; and
               (2)  apply and qualify for the assistance.
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter JJ, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.98211 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.98211.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.  This
  subchapter applies to:
               (1)  an institution of higher education;
               (2)  a private or independent institution of higher
  education; and
               (3)  a nonprofit, tax-exempt, regionally accredited
  college or university operating in accordance with a memorandum of
  understanding with this state under an executive order issued by
  the governor.
         SECTION 8.  Section 61.9822, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.9822.  ELIGIBILITY.  To be eligible to receive loan
  repayment assistance under this subchapter, a nurse must:
               (1)  apply to the board;
               (2)  at the time of application for repayment
  assistance have been employed full-time for at least one year as,
  and be currently employed full-time as, a faculty member of a
  nursing degree program at an institution to which this subchapter
  applies [of higher education or a private or independent
  institution of higher education]; and
               (3)  comply with any additional requirements adopted by
  board rule.
         SECTION 9.  Section 61.9823(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  On qualifying for loan repayment assistance under this
  subchapter, a nurse may receive repayment assistance for each year
  of full-time employment as a faculty member of a nursing degree
  program at an institution to which this subchapter applies [of
  higher education or private or independent institution of higher
  education], not to exceed five years.
         SECTION 10.  Section 61.9824(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The board may provide repayment assistance for the
  repayment of any student loan received by an eligible person
  through any lender that is for education, including undergraduate
  education, at:
               (1)  a public or private institution of higher
  education; or
               (2)  a nonprofit, tax-exempt, regionally accredited
  college or university operating in accordance with a memorandum of
  understanding with this state under an executive order issued by
  the governor [any public or private institution of higher
  education, including a loan for undergraduate education, received
  by an eligible person through any lender].
         SECTION 11.  Section 61.9828(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The board shall distribute a copy of the rules adopted
  under this section and pertinent information regarding this
  subchapter to:
               (1)  each institution to which this subchapter applies
  [of higher education and private or independent institution of
  higher education];
               (2)  any appropriate state agency; and
               (3)  any appropriate professional association.
         SECTION 12.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
  adopt any rules necessary to administer the changes in law made by
  this Act.
         SECTION 13.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  may not award grants under the professional nursing shortage
  reduction program as provided by the changes in law made by this Act
  to Sections 61.9621 and 61.96232, Education Code, before June 1,
  2023.
         SECTION 14.  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, 2021.