Sec. 61.660. TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR VOCATIONAL NURSING STUDENTS AGREEING TO PRACTICE IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES

(a) In this section, "long-term care facility" means:

(1) an ICF-MR, as defined by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code;

(2) a nursing facility;

(3) a residential facility licensed by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services; or

(4) another residential arrangement that provides care to four or more children or adults who are unrelated to each other.

(b) In addition to any other financial aid program established under this subchapter, the board shall establish and administer a tuition assistance program for vocational nursing students attending any school or program in this state who agree, following licensure as a licensed vocational nurse, to practice in a long-term care facility in this state.

(c) The board shall establish and administer the tuition assistance program in a manner that the board determines best promotes the needs of clients of long-term care facilities in this state. The board shall determine the amount of tuition assistance that a student may receive as the board considers appropriate in order to maximize the effectiveness of the program, considering the amount of money available for the program.

(d) The board shall adopt rules necessary for the administration of this section, including rules providing:

(1) eligibility requirements;

(2) the maximum amount of any tuition assistance available;

(3) the amount of time a student agrees to practice in a long-term care facility;

(4) circumstances under which the board may cancel a student's long-term care facility work obligation;

(5) circumstances under which a student will be required to repay the amount of the tuition assistance plus applicable interest and reasonable collection costs because of the student's failure to satisfy the conditions of the assistance; and

(6) a method for computing the amount of money required to be repaid by a student who fails to satisfy the conditions of the tuition assistance.

(e) Once the student completes all courses required for licensure, the student must begin fulfilling the long-term care facility work obligation not later than a time specified by board rule, unless the board grants the student, on a showing of good cause, additional time to begin fulfilling the work obligation. The student must complete the long-term care facility work obligation within a period determined by board rule, unless the board grants the student, on a showing of good cause, additional time to complete the work obligation.

(f) The board shall require a person who receives tuition assistance under this section to sign a promissory note acknowledging the conditional nature of the tuition assistance and promising to repay the amount of the tuition assistance plus applicable interest and reasonable collection costs if the person does not satisfy the applicable long-term care facility work obligation within the required time or other conditions of the assistance. The board shall determine the terms of the promissory note.

(g) The board shall consult with the advisory committee appointed under Section 61.657(b) concerning assistance provided under this section to vocational nursing students. Section 61.657(c) also applies to this section.

(h) The legislature may appropriate money for the purposes of this section. The board may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or private source for the purposes of this section.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1478, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2001. Renumbered from Education Code Sec. 61.659 by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1275, Sec. 2(39), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.