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AN ACT
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relating to the Math and Science Scholars Loan Repayment Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.9831, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.9831. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The |
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board shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board |
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rules, assistance in the repayment of eligible student loans for |
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eligible persons who agree to teach mathematics or science for a |
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specified period in schools [school districts] that receive federal |
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funding under Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of |
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1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.). |
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SECTION 2. Sections 61.9832(a) and (c), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible to receive loan repayment assistance |
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under this subchapter, a person must: |
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(1) apply annually for the loan repayment assistance |
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in the manner prescribed by the board; |
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(2) be a United States citizen; |
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(3) have completed an undergraduate or graduate |
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program in mathematics or science; |
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(4) have a cumulative grade point average of at least |
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3.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent; |
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(5) be: |
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(A) certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, to |
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teach mathematics or science in a public school in this state; or |
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(B) teaching under a probationary teaching |
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certificate [be enrolled in an educator preparation program to
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obtain that certification that is accredited by the State Board for
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Educator Certification and is provided by an institution of higher
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education or by a private or independent institution of higher
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education in this state]; |
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(6) have been employed for at least one year as a |
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teacher teaching mathematics or science at a public school [located
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in a school district] that receives funding under Title I, |
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Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section |
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6301 et seq.); |
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(7) not be in default on any other education loan; |
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(8) not receive any other state or federal loan |
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repayment assistance, including a Teacher Education Assistance for |
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College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant or teacher loan |
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forgiveness; |
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(9) enter into an agreement with the board under |
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Subsection (c); and |
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(10) comply with any other requirement adopted by the |
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board under this subchapter. |
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(c) To receive loan repayment assistance under this |
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subchapter, a person must enter into an agreement with the board |
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that includes the following provisions: |
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(1) the person will accept an offer of full-time |
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employment to teach mathematics or science, as applicable based on |
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the person's certification, in a public school [located in a school
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district] that receives funding under Title I, Elementary and |
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Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.); |
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(2) the person will complete four consecutive years of |
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employment as a full-time classroom teacher in a school described |
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by Subdivision (1) whose primary duty is to teach mathematics or |
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science, as applicable, based on the person's certification; |
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(3) beginning with the school year immediately |
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following the last of the four consecutive school years described |
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by Subdivision (2), the person will complete four additional |
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consecutive school years teaching in any public school in this |
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state; and |
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(4) the person acknowledges the conditional nature of |
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the loan repayment assistance. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.9837(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The fund is a dedicated account in the general revenue |
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fund and consists of: |
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(1) gifts, grants, and other donations received for |
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the fund; [and] |
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(2) any amounts appropriated by the legislature for |
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the fund; and |
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(3) interest and other earnings from the investment of |
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the fund. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 61.9839(a) and (b), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An eligible person may continue to receive loan |
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repayment assistance if the person continues to teach in a public |
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school that receives funding under Title I, Elementary and |
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Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.), |
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[described by Section 61.9832(a)(7)] after the first four years of |
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teaching service required [for eligibility] under Section |
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61.9832(c)(2). |
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(b) If an eligible person transfers to a public school |
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[located in a school district] that does not receive funding under |
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Title I, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. |
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Section 6301 et seq.), after the first four years required for |
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eligibility under Section 61.9832(c)(2), the person may not receive |
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more than 75 percent of the maximum annual amount of the loan |
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repayment assistance as determined by the board. |
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SECTION 5. Section 61.9837(f), Education Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a loan repayment assistance agreement entered into under Subchapter |
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II, Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by Chapter 1229 (S.B. |
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1720), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. A loan repayment assistance |
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agreement entered into before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 686 passed the Senate on |
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April 14, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 7. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 686 passed the House on |
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May 18, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 79, Nays 57, |
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one present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |