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

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

FULL TEXT:
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.