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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures to improve school district classroom teacher |
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retention, including child-care subsidies, eligibility of those |
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teachers' children for prekindergarten programs, and student loan |
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repayment assistance. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.418 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.418. CHILD-CARE SUBSIDY FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS. |
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(a) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the |
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purpose, the agency shall provide a subsidy to each classroom |
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teacher in the amount of the teacher's child-care expenses. |
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(b) The agency may adopt rules as necessary to implement |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 29.153(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten |
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class under this section if the child is at least three years of age |
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and: |
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(1) is unable to speak and comprehend the English |
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language; |
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(2) is educationally disadvantaged; |
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(3) is homeless, regardless of the residence of the |
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child, of either parent of the child, or of the child's guardian or |
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other person having lawful control of the child; |
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(4) is the child of an active duty member of the armed |
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forces of the United States, including the state military forces or |
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a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active |
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duty by proper authority; |
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(5) is the child of a member of the armed forces of the |
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United States, including the state military forces or a reserve |
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component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while |
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serving on active duty; |
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(6) is or ever has been in: |
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(A) the conservatorship of the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing held |
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as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code; or |
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(B) foster care in another state or territory, if |
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the child resides in this state; [or] |
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(7) is the child of a person eligible for the Star of |
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Texas Award as: |
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(A) a peace officer under Section 3106.002, |
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Government Code; |
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(B) a firefighter under Section 3106.003, |
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Government Code; or |
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(C) an emergency medical first responder under |
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Section 3106.004, Government Code; or |
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(8) is the child of a classroom teacher. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter M-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER M-1. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN TEACHER LOANS |
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Sec. 61.715. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "classroom |
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teacher" has the meaning assigned by Section 5.001. |
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Sec. 61.716. 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 student loans for eligible |
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classroom teachers. |
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Sec. 61.717. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan |
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repayment assistance under this subchapter, a person must: |
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(1) submit to the board, in the manner prescribed by |
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the board, an application that includes a statement of the total |
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amount of principal, accrued interest, fees, and other charges due |
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on all outstanding eligible loans for which the person is applying |
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for repayment assistance; |
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(2) be currently employed as a classroom teacher; and |
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(3) have completed at least five years of employment |
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as a classroom teacher. |
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Sec. 61.718. CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY. After initially |
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qualifying for loan repayment assistance under Section 61.717, a |
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person may continue to receive loan repayment assistance in a |
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subsequent year only if the person is employed as a classroom |
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teacher for that year. |
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Sec. 61.719. ELIGIBLE LOANS. The board may provide loan |
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repayment assistance under this subchapter for the repayment of any |
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student loan received by an eligible person through any lender for: |
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(1) education at an institution of higher education; |
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or |
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(2) an alternative teacher certification program in |
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this state. |
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Sec. 61.720. AWARD AMOUNT. An eligible classroom teacher |
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is entitled to receive an annual amount of loan repayment |
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assistance payments under this subchapter payable to the holders of |
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the teacher's eligible loans equal to the following percentage of |
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the total amount stated in the teacher's application under Section |
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61.717: |
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(1) for the first year the teacher receives loan |
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repayment assistance: |
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(A) 50 percent; or |
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(B) if the teacher is employed at a campus |
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assigned an overall performance rating of F under Section 39.054 |
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for the preceding school year, 70 percent; |
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(2) for the second year the teacher receives loan |
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repayment assistance, 30 percent; and |
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(3) if any amount remains, for the third year the |
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teacher receives loan repayment assistance, 20 percent. |
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Sec. 61.721. REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall pay any loan |
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repayment assistance under this subchapter in a lump sum delivered |
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on the classroom teacher's behalf directly to the holder of the |
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loan. |
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(b) A repayment under this subchapter may be applied to any |
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amount due in connection with the loan. |
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Sec. 61.722. RULES. The board shall adopt rules necessary |
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for the administration of this subchapter. |
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SECTION 4. Section 29.153(b), Education Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |