Bill Text: TX SB2049 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-21 - Referred to s/c on Higher Education by Pres [SB2049 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB2049-Introduced.html

---

88R14075 MM-D
By: Miles S.B. No. 2049

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to 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, as amended by
Chapters 891 (H.B. 3083) and 1101 (H.B. 3808), Acts of the 85th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is reenacted and 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;
(5) a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by
Section 505.002, Occupations Code; [and]
(6) a licensed master social worker, as defined by
Section 505.002, Occupations Code;
(7) a person who holds a licensed professional
counselor associate license issued by the Texas State Board of
Examiners of Professional Counselors;
(8) [(6)] a licensed marriage and family therapist, as
defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code; and
(9) a chemical dependency counselor, as defined by
Section 504.001, Occupations Code.
SECTION 2. Section 61.607(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The total amount of repayment assistance received by a
mental health professional under this subchapter may not exceed:
(1) $160,000, for assistance from the state received
by a licensed physician;
(2) $80,000, for assistance from the state received
by:
(A) a psychologist;
(B) a licensed clinical social worker, if the
social worker has received a doctoral degree related to social
work;
(C) a licensed professional counselor, if the
counselor has received a doctoral degree related to counseling; or
(D) a licensed marriage and family therapist, if
the marriage and family therapist has received a doctoral degree
related to marriage and family therapy;
(3) $60,000, for assistance from the state received by
an advanced practice registered nurse;
(4) $40,000, for assistance from the state received
by:
(A) a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed
marriage and family therapist, or a licensed professional counselor
who is not described by Subdivision (2);
(B) a licensed master social worker; or
(C) a person who holds a licensed professional
counselor associate license issued by the Texas State Board of
Examiners of Professional Counselors; and
(5) $10,000, for assistance from the state 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 3. The following provisions are repealed:
(1) Sections 61.604(d) and (e), Education Code, as
added by Chapter 1101 (H.B. 3808), Acts of the 85th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2017; and
(2) Section 61.608(c), Education Code, as added by
Chapter 1101 (H.B. 3808), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2017.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.