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.