House Bill No. 184 introduces a new subchapter to the Education Code, specifically aimed at providing student loan repayment assistance for prosecuting attorneys employed by the border prosecution unit. The bill defines the "border prosecution unit" and outlines the eligibility criteria for attorneys seeking assistance, which includes being licensed in Texas and having completed one to four consecutive years of employment with the unit. The board is authorized to provide loan repayment assistance for eligible student loans, with a maximum assistance period of four years and a total cap of $110,000 per attorney. Additionally, the total amount of assistance awarded under this subchapter cannot exceed $2 million in each state fiscal biennium.
The bill also stipulates that the board must adopt necessary rules for administering the program and is empowered to solicit and accept gifts and grants to support the initiative. The repayment assistance can be applied to any amount due on the loan and will be disbursed either directly to the lender or in a lump sum to both the attorney and the lender. The legislation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.
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