H.B. No. 2099

	AN ACT
	relating to improving access to nursing education programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Sections 51.762(a) and (b), Education Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The board, with the assistance of an advisory committee
	composed of representatives of general academic teaching
	institutions, junior college districts, public state colleges, and
	public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all
	institutions of higher education that admit freshman-level
	students:
	(1)  shall adopt by rule:
	(A)  a common admission application form for use
	by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to a general
	academic teaching institution; [and]
	(B)  an electronic common admission application
	form for use by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to
	an institution of higher education that admits freshman-level
	students, other than a general academic teaching institution; and
	(C)  if the board determines that adoption of the
	form would be cost-effective for nursing schools, an electronic
	common admission application form for use by a person seeking
	admission as a student to an undergraduate nursing education
	program at an institution of higher education; and
	(2)  may adopt by rule a printed format common
	admission application form for use by a person seeking admission as
	a freshman student to an institution of higher education that
	admits freshman-level students, other than a general academic
	teaching institution.
	(b)  The board, with the assistance of an advisory committee
	composed of representatives of general academic teaching
	institutions, junior college districts, public state colleges, and
	public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all
	institutions of higher education that admit undergraduate transfer
	students, may adopt by rule:
	(1)  a common admission application form for use by a
	person seeking admission as an undergraduate transfer student to a
	general academic teaching institution; [and]
	(2)  an electronic or printed format common admission
	application form for use by a person seeking admission as an
	undergraduate transfer student to an institution of higher
	education that admits undergraduate transfer students, other than a
	general academic teaching institution; and
	(3)  if the board determines that adoption of the form
	would be cost-effective for nursing schools, an electronic common
	admission application form for use by a person seeking admission as
	a transfer student to an undergraduate nursing education program at
	an institution of higher education.
	SECTION 2.  Section 61.026, Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 61.026.  COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) The
	chairman may appoint committees from the board's membership as the
	chairman [he] or the board may find necessary from time to time.
	The board may appoint advisory committees from outside its
	membership as it may deem necessary.
	(b)  If the board directs an advisory committee to assist the
	board in exercising its authority under Section 61.051(j) regarding
	an off-campus course in nursing education, including clinical
	coursework, the board shall require the advisory committee to
	include or consult with one or more private postsecondary
	educational institutions or private career schools and colleges in
	this state that offer degree programs.
	SECTION 3.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
	Subchapter II to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER II.  NURSING FACULTY LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
	Sec. 61.9821.  REPAYMENT AUTHORIZED. The board shall
	establish and administer a program to provide, in accordance with
	this subchapter and board rules, assistance in the repayment of
	student loans for nurses who:
	(1)  are serving on the faculties of nursing degree
	programs at institutions of higher education or private or
	independent institutions of higher education in positions that
	require an advanced degree in professional nursing; and
	(2)  apply and qualify for the assistance.
	Sec. 61.9822.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan
	repayment assistance under this subchapter, a nurse must:
	(1)  apply to the board;
	(2)  at the time of application for repayment
	assistance have been employed full-time for at least one year as,
	and be currently employed full-time as, a faculty member of a
	nursing degree program at an institution of higher education or a
	private or independent institution of higher education; and
	(3)  comply with any additional requirements adopted by
	board rule.
	Sec. 61.9823.  LIMITATIONS. (a) On qualifying for loan
	repayment assistance under this subchapter, a nurse may receive
	repayment assistance for each year of full-time employment as a
	faculty member of a nursing degree program at an institution of
	higher education or private or independent institution of higher
	education, not to exceed five years.
	(b)  The amount of loan repayment assistance received by a
	nurse under this subchapter may not exceed $7,000 in any one year.
	(c)  The total amount of loan repayment assistance provided
	under this subchapter may not exceed the total amount of gifts and
	grants accepted by the board for the repayment assistance and other
	funds available to the board for the repayment assistance,
	including any money reallocated under Section 61.9826.
	Sec. 61.9824.  ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide
	repayment assistance for the repayment of any student loan for
	education at any public or private institution of higher education,
	including a loan 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 nurse's
	application.
	Sec. 61.9825.  REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any
	repayment under this subchapter in a lump sum:
	(1)  payable to both the lender or other holder of the
	loan and the nurse; or
	(2)  directly to the lender or other holder of the loan
	on the nurse's behalf.
	(b)  A repayment under this subchapter may be applied to any
	amount due in connection with the loan.
	Sec. 61.9826.  REALLOCATION OF MONEY. (a)  In each state
	fiscal year, the board shall reallocate for loan repayment
	assistance under this subchapter for a particular year any money in
	the physician education loan repayment program account established
	under Section 61.5391 that exceeds the amount necessary in that
	fiscal year for purposes of repayment assistance under Subchapter
	J.
	(b)  Any money reallocated under Subsection (a) in a fiscal
	year that is not used for loan repayment assistance under this
	subchapter in that fiscal year is treated as if that unused amount
	had not been reallocated in that fiscal year.
	Sec. 61.9827.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  The board may solicit and
	accept gifts and grants from any source for the purposes of this
	subchapter.
	Sec. 61.9828.  RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules as
	necessary to administer this subchapter.
	(b)  The board shall distribute a copy of the rules adopted
	under this section and pertinent information regarding this
	subchapter to:
	(1)  each institution of higher education and private
	or independent institution of higher education;
	(2)  any appropriate state agency; and
	(3)  any appropriate professional association.
	SECTION 4.  Section 61.5391(b), Education Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  Money in the account may not be appropriated for any
	purpose except:
	(1)  to provide loan repayment assistance to eligible
	physicians under this subchapter; or
	(2)  to provide loan repayment assistance under
	Subchapter II if reallocated under Section 61.9826.
	SECTION 5.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
	shall adopt the rules for loan repayment assistance under
	Subchapter II, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, not
	later than December 1, 2013.
	SECTION 6.  Not later than September 1, 2014, the Texas
	Higher Education Coordinating Board shall make an initial
	determination regarding whether adopting electronic common
	admission application forms for undergraduate nursing education
	programs would be cost-effective as required by Sections 51.762(a)
	and (b), Education Code, as amended by this Act.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2099 was passed by the House on May 2,
	2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 1, 2 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 2099 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 2,
	2 present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2099 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 21, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
	0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor