2023 Tennessee Code › Title 3 - LEGISLATURE (§§ 3-1-101 — 3-18-111) › Chapter 6 - ETHICS AND LOBBYING (§§ 3-6-101 — 3-6-309) › Part 3 - LOBBYISTS (§§ 3-6-301 — 3-6-309) › Section 3-6-309 - Registration of person in default on student loans

(a)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1)
"Commission" means the Tennessee ethics commission or other governmental body authorized by statute to register lobbyists;
(2)
"Guarantee agency" means a guarantor of student loans that has an agreement with the United States secretary of education; and
(3)
"TSAC" means the Tennessee student assistance corporation.
(b)
(1)
Upon receiving a copy of a final order as provided in subsection (c) from TSAC or a guarantee agency, the commission shall suspend, deny or revoke the registration of any individual lobbyist who has defaulted on a repayment or service obligation under any federal family education loan program, the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (
20 U.S.C. § 1001
et seq.), a student loan guaranteed or administered by TSAC, or any other state or federal educational loan or service-conditional scholarship program.
(2)
Notwithstanding subdivision (b)(1), the commission may elect not to suspend, deny, or revoke the registration of a lobbyist if the commission determines that the default or delinquency is the result of a medical hardship that prevented the person from working in the person's licensed field and the medical hardship significantly contributed to the default or delinquency.
(c)
(1)
The commission shall accept any determination of default from TSAC or a guarantee agency, after TSAC or the guarantee agency has afforded a debtor an opportunity to be heard in accordance with subdivision (c)(2); and the commission shall rescind any disciplinary action and restore any registration upon receiving notice from TSAC or the guarantee agency that the individual has agreed to serve the individual's obligation or is in compliance with an approved repayment plan.
(2)
(A)
Unless a debtor has made satisfactory arrangements according to the lender, TSAC or the guarantee agency, which may include administrative wage garnishment, voluntary payment arrangements, deferment or forbearance, then the debtor shall be regarded as delinquent or in default. If a debtor is delinquent or in default on a repayment or service obligation under a guaranteed student loan identified in subsection (b), or the debtor has failed to enter into a payment plan, agree to a service obligation or comply with a payment plan previously approved by TSAC or the guarantee agency, then TSAC or the guarantee agency shall issue to the debtor a notice of intent to file an order with the appropriate licensing authority to seek to suspend, deny or revoke the debtor's registration. The notice shall:
(i)
Be served upon the debtor personally or by certified mail with return receipt requested; and
(ii)
State that the debtor's registration shall be suspended, denied or revoked ninety (90) days after service unless within that time the debtor:
(a)
Pays the entire debt stated in the notice;
(b)
Enters into a payment plan, service obligation or complies with a payment plan previously entered into and approved by TSAC or the guarantee agency;
(c)
Requests and qualifies for deferment, forbearance or other satisfactory compliance; or
(d)
Requests a hearing before TSAC or the guarantee agency.
(B)
The hearing request by the debtor shall be made in writing and must be received by TSAC or the guarantee agency within twenty (20) days of the date the notice is served.
(C)
TSAC or the guarantee agency, upon receipt of a request for a hearing from the debtor, shall schedule a hearing to determine whether a determination of delinquency or default which could result in suspension, denial or revocation of the debtor's registration is appropriate. The debtor's registration may not be suspended, denied or revoked until a determination is reached following the hearing. The issues that may be determined in the hearing are:
(i)
The amount of the debt, if any;
(ii)
Whether the debtor is delinquent or in default; and
(iii)
Whether the debtor:
(a)
Has entered into a payment plan or service obligation approved by TSAC or the guarantee agency;
(b)
Is willing to enter into a payment plan or service obligation approved by TSAC or the guarantee agency;
(c)
Is willing to comply with a payment plan or service obligation previously entered into and approved by TSAC or the guarantee agency;
(iv)
Whether the debtor is eligible for deferment, forbearance or other satisfactory compliance; or
(v)
Whether the debtor's default or delinquency is the result of a medical hardship that prevented the debtor from working in the person's licensed field and the medical hardship significantly contributed to the default or delinquency.
(D)
If a debtor, without good cause, fails to respond to the notice of intent, fails to timely request a hearing, or fails to appear at a regularly scheduled hearing, the debtor's defenses, objections, or request for a payment plan or compliance with a payment plan may be determined to be without merit; and TSAC or the guarantee agency shall enter a final decision and order, requesting suspension, denial or revocation of the debtor's registration, and further requesting the commission to order the debtor to refrain from engaging in lobbying. TSAC or the guarantee agency shall send a copy of the order to the commission and the debtor.
(E)
The administrative hearings shall be conducted in accordance with rules and regulations adopted under the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
(F)
(i)
When TSAC or the guarantee agency determines that the debt is paid in full or the debtor has entered into a payment plan, entered into a service obligation, is otherwise in satisfactory compliance or complied with a payment plan previously approved by TSAC or the guarantee agency, TSAC or the guarantee agency shall enter an order requesting that the commission terminate the order suspending, denying or revoking the registration. TSAC or the guarantee agency shall send a copy of the order to the commission and the debtor. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, when the registration is reinstated, the commission shall not impose a reinstatement fee that exceeds fifty dollars ($50.00).
(ii)
Entry of an order seeking to terminate suspension, denial or revocation of a registration does not limit the ability of TSAC or the guarantee agency to issue a new order which seeks to suspend, deny or revoke the registration of the same debtor in the event of another delinquency or default.
(G)
TSAC is authorized to promulgate necessary rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this subsection (c). All such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
(d)
The commission is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this section. All such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 744, s 2, eff. 1/1/2019.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 744, s 1, eff. 1/1/2019.
Acts 2012 , ch. 519, § 4.