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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility requirements for repayment assistance for |
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certain mental health professional education loans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.603(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible to receive repayment assistance under |
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this subchapter, a mental health professional must: |
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(1) apply to the board; |
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(2) have completed [one,] two, three, four, or five |
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consecutive years of practice in a mental health professional |
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shortage area designated by the Department of State Health |
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Services; and |
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(3) provide mental health services in this state to: |
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(A) recipients under the medical assistance |
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program authorized by Chapter 32, Human Resources Code; |
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(B) enrollees under the child health plan program |
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authorized by Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code; or |
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(C) persons committed to a secure correctional |
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facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Juvenile |
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Justice Department or persons confined in a secure correctional |
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facility operated by or under contract with any division of the |
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Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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61.603, Education Code, applies only to eligibility for loan |
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repayment assistance under Subchapter K, Chapter 61, Education |
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Code, on the basis of an application submitted on or after September |
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1, 2017. Eligibility on the basis of an application submitted |
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before September 1, 2017, is covered by the law in effect at the |
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time the application was submitted, and the former law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |