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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility requirements for the repayment of certain |
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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 61.601, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mental |
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health professional" means: |
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(1) a licensed physician who is: |
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(A) a graduate of an accredited psychiatric |
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residency training program; or |
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(B) certified in psychiatry by: |
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(i) the American Board of Psychiatry and |
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Neurology; or |
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(ii) the American Osteopathic Board of |
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Neurology and Psychiatry; |
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(2) a psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002, |
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Occupations Code; |
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(3) a licensed professional counselor, as defined by |
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Section 503.002, Occupations Code; |
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(4) an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined |
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by Section 301.152, Occupations Code, who holds a nationally |
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recognized board certification in psychiatric or mental health |
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nursing; [and] |
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(5) a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by |
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Section 505.002, Occupations Code; and |
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(6) a chemical dependency counselor, as defined by |
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Section 504.001, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 2. 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 3. Sections 61.607(a) and (b), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A mental health professional may receive repayment |
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assistance under this subchapter for each consecutive year the |
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mental health professional establishes eligibility for the |
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assistance in an amount determined by applying the following |
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applicable percentage to the maximum total amount of assistance |
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allowed for the mental health professional under Subsection (b): |
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(1) [for the first year, 10 percent;
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[(2)] for the second year, 25 [15] percent; |
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(2) [(3)] for the third year, 20 percent; |
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(3) [(4)] for the fourth year, 25 percent; and |
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(4) [(5)] for the fifth year, 30 percent. |
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(b) The total amount of repayment assistance received by a |
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mental health professional under this subchapter may not exceed: |
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(1) $160,000, for assistance received by a licensed |
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physician; |
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(2) $80,000, for assistance received by: |
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(A) a psychologist; |
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(B) a licensed clinical social worker, if the |
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social worker has received a doctoral degree related to social |
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work; or |
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(C) a licensed professional counselor, if the |
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counselor has received a doctoral degree related to counseling; |
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(3) $60,000, for assistance received by an advanced |
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practice registered nurse; [and] |
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(4) $40,000, for assistance received by a licensed |
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clinical social worker or a licensed professional counselor who is |
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not described by Subdivision (2); and |
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(5) $10,000, for assistance received by a licensed |
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chemical dependency counselor, if the chemical dependency |
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counselor has received an associate degree related to chemical |
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dependency counseling or behavioral science. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections |
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61.603(a) and 61.607(a), Education Code, apply only to a person who |
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first establishes eligibility for loan repayment assistance under |
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Subchapter K, Chapter 61, Education Code, as amended by this Act, on |
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the basis of an application submitted on or after September 1, 2017. |
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A person who first establishes eligibility on the basis of an |
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application submitted before September 1, 2017, is governed by the |
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law in effect at the time the application was submitted, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |