88R10965 MM-D
 
  By: Frazier, Leo-Wilson, Swanson, Lalani, H.B. No. 2672
      et al.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the eligibility for student loan repayment assistance
  under the math and science scholars loan repayment program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.9831, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.9831.  LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.  The
  board shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board
  rules, assistance in the repayment of eligible student loans for
  eligible persons who agree to teach mathematics or science for a
  specified period in public schools [that receive federal funding
  under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
  U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.)].
         SECTION 2.  Sections 61.9832(a) and (c), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  To be eligible to receive loan repayment assistance
  under this subchapter, a person must:
               (1)  apply annually for the loan repayment assistance
  in the manner prescribed by the board;
               (2)  be a United States citizen;
               (3)  have completed an undergraduate or graduate
  program in mathematics or science;
               (4)  have a cumulative grade point average of at least
  3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent;
               (5)  be:
                     (A)  certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, to
  teach mathematics or science in a public school in this state; or
                     (B)  teaching under a probationary teaching
  certificate;
               (6)  have been employed for at least one year as a
  teacher teaching mathematics or science at a public school [that
  receives funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education
  Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.)];
               (7)  not be in default on any other education loan;
               (8)  not receive any other state or federal loan
  repayment assistance, including a Teacher Education Assistance for
  College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant or teacher loan
  forgiveness;
               (9)  enter into an agreement with the board under
  Subsection (c); and
               (10)  comply with any other requirement adopted by the
  board under this subchapter.
         (c)  To receive loan repayment assistance under this
  subchapter, a person must enter into an agreement with the board
  that includes the following provisions:
               (1)  the person will accept an offer of full-time
  employment to teach mathematics or science, as applicable based on
  the person's certification, in a public school [that receives
  funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
  1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.)];
               (2)  the person will complete four consecutive years of
  employment in any public school as a full-time classroom teacher
  [in a school described by Subdivision (1)] whose primary duty is to
  teach mathematics or science, as applicable, based on the person's
  certification;
               (3)  beginning with the school year immediately
  following the last of the four consecutive school years described
  by Subdivision (2), the person will complete an additional number
  of consecutive school years teaching in any public school in this
  state, as prescribed by board rule; and
               (4)  the person acknowledges the conditional nature of
  the loan repayment assistance.
         SECTION 3.  Section 61.9839(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to Sections 61.9833(b) and 61.9838(c), an [An]
  eligible person may continue to receive the same amount of loan
  repayment assistance received during the first four consecutive
  years of teaching service required under Section 61.9832(c)(2) if
  the person continues to teach in a public school in accordance with
  board rules for the prescribed number of consecutive school years
  occurring immediately after those [that receives funding under
  Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
  Section 6301 et seq.), after the] first four years [of teaching
  service required under Section 61.9832(c)(2)].
         SECTION 4.  Section 61.9839(b), Education Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 5.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt rules necessary to administer Sections 61.9831,
  61.9832, and 61.9839, Education Code, as amended by this Act.
         (b)  Sections 61.9831, 61.9832, and 61.9839, Education Code,
  as amended by this Act, apply only to a loan repayment assistance
  agreement entered into under Subchapter KK, Chapter 61, Education
  Code, on or after the effective date of this Act.  A loan repayment
  assistance agreement entered into before the effective date of this
  Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.