By: Blanco S.B. No. 2545
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain health
  care workers employed in rural counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter L-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER L-1. REPAYMENT OF EDUCATION LOANS FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE
  WORKERS 
         Sec. 61.671.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: 
               (1)  "Health care worker" means a person who furnishes
  health care services in direct patient care situations under a
  license, certificate, or registration issued by this state or a
  person providing direct patient care in the course of a training or
  educational program. 
               (2)  "Rural county" means a county in this state with a
  population of less than 100,000. 
         Sec. 61.672.  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 health care workers who apply and qualify for the
  assistance. 
         Sec. 61.673.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan
  repayment assistance under this subchapter, a health care worker
  may not be receiving loan repayment assistance under another
  program administered by the board and must: 
               (1)  apply to the board in a manner prescribed by the
  board; 
               (2)  at the time of application for repayment
  assistance be employed full-time as a health care worker in a rural
  county; and 
               (3)  commit to full-time employment as a health care
  worker in a rural county for not less than two years after the
  health care worker receives the loan repayment lump sum under
  Section 61.676. 
         Sec. 61.674.  LIMITATIONS. A health care worker may receive
  loan repayment assistance under this subchapter for not more than
  four years. 
         Sec. 61.675.  ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide loan
  repayment assistance under this subchapter for the repayment of any
  student loan for education at an institution of higher education, a
  private or independent institution of higher education, or a public
  or private out-of-state institution of higher education accredited
  by a recognized accrediting agency, including loans for
  undergraduate education, received by an eligible person through any
  lender. 
         (b)  The board may not provide repayment assistance for a
  student loan that is in default at the time of the person's
  application. 
         (c)  In each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt
  to allocate all funds appropriated to the board for the purpose of
  providing loan repayment assistance under this subchapter. 
         Sec. 61.676.  REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
  repayment under this subchapter in a lump sum payable:
               (1)  to both the lender or other holder of the loan and
  the health care worker; or 
               (2)  directly to the lender or other holder of the loan
  on the health care worker's behalf. 
         (b)  A repayment under this subchapter may be applied to any
  amount due in connection with the loan. 
         Sec. 61.677.  AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. (a) A health
  care worker may receive loan repayment assistance under this
  subchapter for each year the health care worker establishes
  eligibility for the assistance in an amount determined by the
  board. 
         (b)  The board by rule shall determine the maximum amount of
  loan repayment assistance received by a health care worker under
  this subchapter in any one year. 
         (c)  The total amount of loan repayment assistance provided
  under this subchapter may not exceed the sum of: 
               (1)  the total amount of gifts and grants accepted by
  the board for the repayment assistance; 
               (2)  legislative appropriations for the repayment
  assistance; and
               (3)  other funds available to the board for the
  repayment assistance. 
         (d)  The board may adjust in an equitable manner the
  distribution amounts that health care workers would otherwise
  receive under Subsection (a) for a year as necessary to comply with
  Subsection (c). 
         Sec. 61.678.  RULES; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The board shall
  adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter.
         (b)  The board shall distribute to each institution of higher
  education or private or independent institution of higher education
  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. 
         (c)  The board shall administer the program under this
  subchapter in a manner that maximizes any matching funds available
  through other sources. 
         (d)  A reasonable amount, not to exceed three percent, of any
  money appropriated for purposes of this subchapter may be used to
  pay the costs of administering this subchapter. 
         Sec. 61.679.  SOLICITATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS. The
  board may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any public or
  private source for the purposes of this subchapter. 
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.