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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility for student loan repayment assistance |
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under the math and science scholars loan repayment program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.9831, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.9831. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The |
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board shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board |
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rules, assistance in the repayment of eligible student loans for |
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eligible persons who agree to teach mathematics or science for a |
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specified period in public schools [that receive federal funding |
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under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 |
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U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.)]. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 61.9832(a) and (c), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible to receive loan repayment assistance |
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under this subchapter, a person must: |
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(1) apply annually for the loan repayment assistance |
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in the manner prescribed by the board; |
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(2) be a United States citizen; |
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(3) have completed an undergraduate or graduate |
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program in mathematics or science; |
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(4) have a cumulative grade point average of at least |
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3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent; |
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(5) be: |
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(A) certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, to |
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teach mathematics or science in a public school in this state; or |
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(B) teaching under a probationary teaching |
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certificate; |
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(6) have been employed for at least one year as a |
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teacher teaching mathematics or science at a public school [that |
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receives funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education |
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Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.)]; |
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(7) not be in default on any other education loan; |
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(8) not receive any other state or federal loan |
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repayment assistance, including a Teacher Education Assistance for |
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College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant or teacher loan |
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forgiveness; |
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(9) enter into an agreement with the board under |
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Subsection (c); and |
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(10) comply with any other requirement adopted by the |
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board under this subchapter. |
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(c) To receive loan repayment assistance under this |
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subchapter, a person must enter into an agreement with the board |
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that includes the following provisions: |
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(1) the person will accept an offer of full-time |
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employment to teach mathematics or science, as applicable based on |
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the person's certification, in a public school [that receives |
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funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of |
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1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.)]; |
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(2) the person will complete four consecutive years of |
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employment in any public school as a full-time classroom teacher |
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[in a school described by Subdivision (1)] whose primary duty is to |
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teach mathematics or science, as applicable, based on the person's |
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certification; |
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(3) beginning with the school year immediately |
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following the last of the four consecutive school years described |
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by Subdivision (2), the person will complete an additional number |
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of consecutive school years teaching in any public school in this |
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state, as prescribed by board rule; and |
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(4) the person acknowledges the conditional nature of |
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the loan repayment assistance. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.9839(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Subject to Sections 61.9833(b) and 61.9838(c), an [An] |
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eligible person may continue to receive the same amount of loan |
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repayment assistance received during the first four consecutive |
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years of teaching service required under Section 61.9832(c)(2) if |
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the person continues to teach in a public school in accordance with |
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board rules for the prescribed number of consecutive school years |
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occurring immediately after those [that receives funding under |
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Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. |
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Section 6301 et seq.), after the] first four years [of teaching |
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service required under Section 61.9832(c)(2)]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 61.9839(b), Education Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 5. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall adopt rules necessary to administer Sections 61.9831, |
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61.9832, and 61.9839, Education Code, as amended by this Act. |
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(b) Sections 61.9831, 61.9832, and 61.9839, Education Code, |
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as amended by this Act, apply only to a loan repayment assistance |
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agreement entered into under Subchapter KK, Chapter 61, Education |
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Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. A loan repayment |
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assistance agreement entered into before the effective date of this |
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Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |