Bill Text: TX SB1509 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to eligibility requirements for the repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-20 - Referred to Higher Education [SB1509 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB1509-Introduced.html

---

85R11014 MM-F
By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1509

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eligibility requirements for the repayment of certain
mental health professional education loans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.601, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mental
health professional" means:
(1) a licensed physician who is:
(A) a graduate of an accredited psychiatric
residency training program; or
(B) certified in psychiatry by:
(i) the American Board of Psychiatry and
Neurology; or
(ii) the American Osteopathic Board of
Neurology and Psychiatry;
(2) a psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002,
Occupations Code;
(3) a licensed professional counselor, as defined by
Section 503.002, Occupations Code;
(4) an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined
by Section 301.152, Occupations Code, who holds a nationally
recognized board certification in psychiatric or mental health
nursing; [and]
(5) a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by
Section 505.002, Occupations Code; and
(6) a chemical dependency counselor, as defined by
Section 504.001, Occupations Code.
SECTION 2. Section 61.603(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) To be eligible to receive repayment assistance under
this subchapter, a mental health professional must:
(1) apply to the board;
(2) have completed [one,] two, three, four, or five
consecutive years of practice in a mental health professional
shortage area designated by the Department of State Health
Services; and
(3) provide mental health services in this state to:
(A) recipients under the medical assistance
program authorized by Chapter 32, Human Resources Code;
(B) enrollees under the child health plan program
authorized by Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code; or
(C) persons committed to a secure correctional
facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Juvenile
Justice Department or persons confined in a secure correctional
facility operated by or under contract with any division of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
SECTION 3. Sections 61.607(a) and (b), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) A mental health professional may receive repayment
assistance under this subchapter for each consecutive year the
mental health professional establishes eligibility for the
assistance in an amount determined by applying the following
applicable percentage to the maximum total amount of assistance
allowed for the mental health professional under Subsection (b):
(1) [for the first year, 10 percent;
[(2)] for the second year, 25 [15] percent;
(2) [(3)] for the third year, 20 percent;
(3) [(4)] for the fourth year, 25 percent; and
(4) [(5)] for the fifth year, 30 percent.
(b) The total amount of repayment assistance received by a
mental health professional under this subchapter may not exceed:
(1) $160,000, for assistance received by a licensed
physician;
(2) $80,000, for assistance received by:
(A) a psychologist;
(B) a licensed clinical social worker, if the
social worker has received a doctoral degree related to social
work; or
(C) a licensed professional counselor, if the
counselor has received a doctoral degree related to counseling;
(3) $60,000, for assistance received by an advanced
practice registered nurse; [and]
(4) $40,000, for assistance received by a licensed
clinical social worker or a licensed professional counselor who is
not described by Subdivision (2); and
(5) $10,000, for assistance received by a licensed
chemical dependency counselor, if the chemical dependency
counselor has received an associate degree related to chemical
dependency counseling or behavioral science.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
61.603(a) and 61.607(a), Education Code, apply only to a person who
first establishes eligibility for loan repayment assistance under
Subchapter K, Chapter 61, Education Code, as amended by this Act, on
the basis of an application submitted on or after September 1, 2017.
A person who first establishes eligibility on the basis of an
application submitted before September 1, 2017, is governed by the
law in effect at the time the application was submitted, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.