Amend HB 5520 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered ARTICLE to the bill and renumbering subsequent ARTICLES of the bill accordingly:

ARTICLE ____. TUITION REIMBURSEMENT AND STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN BORDER COMMUNITIES

SECTION ____.  (a) The Department of State Health Services, in consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall develop and adopt a plan to establish new and improve existing tuition reimbursement programs and programs providing assistance with the repayment of student loans for eligible health care professionals who are serving in communities near and along the international border of this state with the United Mexican States.

(b)  The plan developed under this section must:

(1)  require a health care professional to commit to full-time employment as a health care professional in the communities near and along the international border of this state with the United Mexican States for a specified time to be eligible for participation in the tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment programs; and

(2)  give preference for participation in the programs to health care professionals who live in those communities.

(c)  Not later than September 1, 2026, the Department of State Health Services shall submit to the legislature the plan developed under Subsection (a) of this section and the estimated cost to this state of implementing the plan.

(d)  This section expires January 1, 2027.