HB184 - Relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain prosecuting attorneys who are employed as part of the border prosecution unit.

  89R20708 MM-D     By: Guillen, Morales of Maverick, H.B. No. 184       A. Davis of Dallas, Plesa       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain   prosecuting attorneys who are employed as part of the border   prosecution unit.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter PP to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER PP. REPAYMENT OF EDUCATION LOANS FOR BORDER PROSECUTION   UNIT ATTORNEYS           Sec.   61.9971.     DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "border   prosecution unit"   means the border prosecution unit established   under Subchapter B, Chapter 772, Government Code.           Sec.   61.9972.     LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED. The   board shall provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board   rules, assistance in the repayment of eligible student loans for   eligible attorneys who apply and qualify for the assistance.           Sec.   61.9973.     ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan   repayment assistance under this subchapter, an attorney must:                 (1)     apply to the board in a manner prescribed by the   board;                 (2)  be an attorney licensed in this state; and                 (3)     have completed one, two, three, or four   consecutive years of employment as a prosecuting attorney for the   border prosecution unit.           Sec.   61.9974.     LIMITATION. An attorney may receive loan   repayment assistance under this subchapter for not more than four   years.           Sec.   61.9975.     ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The board may provide   loan repayment assistance under this subchapter for the repayment   of any student loan for education at an institution of higher   education, a private or independent institution of higher   education, or a public or private out-of-state institution of   higher education accredited by a recognized accrediting agency,   including loans 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 person's   application.           (c)     In each state fiscal biennium, the board shall attempt   to allocate all money appropriated to the board for the purpose of   providing loan repayment assistance under this subchapter.           Sec.   61.9976.     REPAYMENT. (a) The board shall deliver any   repayment under this subchapter in a lump sum payable:                 (1)     to both the lender or other holder of the loan and   the attorney; or                 (2)     directly to the lender or other holder of the loan   on the attorney's behalf.           (b)     A repayment under this subchapter may be applied to any   amount due in connection with the loan.           Sec.   61.9977.     AMOUNT OF REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. (a) For each   year an attorney establishes eligibility for the assistance, the   attorney may receive loan repayment assistance under this   subchapter in an amount determined by applying the following   applicable percentage to the attorney's total student loan balance:                 (1)  for the first year, 25 percent;                 (2)  for the second year, 25 percent;                 (3)  for the third year, 25 percent; and                 (4)  for the fourth year, 25 percent.           (b)     The total amount of loan repayment assistance awarded   under this subchapter may not exceed the sum of:                 (1)     the total amount of gifts and grants accepted by   the board for the repayment assistance;                 (2)     legislative appropriations for the repayment   assistance; and                 (3)     other money available to the board for the   repayment assistance.           (c)     The total amount of loan repayment assistance received   by an attorney under this subchapter may not exceed $110,000.           (d)     The total amount of loan repayment assistance awarded   under this subchapter may not exceed $2 million in each state fiscal   biennium.           (e)     The board may adjust in an equitable manner the   distribution amounts that attorneys would otherwise receive under   Subsection (a) for a year as necessary to comply with the other   provisions of this section.           Sec.   61.9978.     RULES; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The board shall   adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter.           (b)     The board shall distribute copies of the rules adopted   under this section and other pertinent information relating to this   subchapter to:                 (1)     each school of law authorized by the board to award   a degree that satisfies the law study requirements for licensure as   an attorney in this state;                 (2)     the office of each prosecutor who is a member of   the border prosecution unit; and                 (3)     the criminal justice division of the governor's   office.           (c)     The board shall administer the program under this   subchapter in a manner that maximizes any matching funds available   through other sources.           Sec.   61.9979.     SOLICITATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF MONEY. The   board may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any public or   private source for the purposes of this subchapter.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.