Bill Text: TX HB4935 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to certain duties of a public institution of higher education in relation to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-23 - Referred to Higher Education [HB4935 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB4935-Introduced.html

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88R15339 CXP-D
By: Allen H.B. No. 4935

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain duties of a public institution of higher
education in relation to the federal Public Service Loan
Forgiveness Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 51.944 and 51.9441 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.944. CERTIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN FACULTY
MEMBERS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM. (a) In this
section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned
by Section 61.003.
(b) For purposes of certifying the employment of an adjunct
or other part-time faculty member for the Public Service Loan
Forgiveness Program administered by the United States Department of
Education only, an institution of higher education shall:
(1) consider the faculty member to have worked at
least 3.35 hours for each credit hour or contact hour of instruction
the faculty member provides; and
(2) designate the faculty member as a full-time
employee if the faculty member works on average at least 30 hours
per week based on the number of hours the faculty member is
considered to have worked under Subdivision (1).
(c) Not later than the 60th day after the date an
institution of higher education receives a certification and
application form from an employee seeking employment certification
for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
administered by the United States Department of Education, the
institution shall:
(1) determine whether the employee is considered a
full-time employee of the institution for purposes of the
employment verification and verify the information provided by the
employee on the certification and application form; and
(2) if the employee is considered a full-time employee
of the institution for purposes of the employment verification,
certify the employee's employment.
(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
rules as necessary to administer this section.
Sec. 51.9441. NOTICE TO INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION
EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM. (a) In this
section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned
by Section 61.003.
(b) Not later than October 1 of each year, an institution of
higher education shall provide written notice to each institution
employee of the ability of eligible employees to participate in the
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program administered by the United
States Department of Education. An institution of higher education
may deliver a written notice under this section to an employee by
hand delivery, mail, e-mail, or other form of electronic
communication commonly used by the institution to communicate with
employees.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.