Allen’s bill on loan forgiveness for adjunct instructors

The text as introduced · 437 words

89R12804 AND-D

By: Allen
H.B. No. 3326

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, 2025.