Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.

Contracts

• Offer Letters: You must revise employment agreements to explicitly state that loan repayment awards are determined solely by the State of Texas. Do not guarantee specific dollar amounts in offer letters. Use the following disclaimer: *"Eligibility for the Texas Mental Health Professional Education Loan Repayment Program is determined by the THECB and subject to legislative appropriation; [Company Name] does not guarantee funding."*
• Retention Agreements: Align internal retention contracts (e.g., non-competes or training repayment) with the state’s new 5-year incentive structure to maximize employee tenure without creating conflicting obligations.

Hiring/Training

• Job Descriptions: Immediately update postings for Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW), LPC Associates, LMFT Associates, and School Counselors to list "State Loan Repayment Program Eligible."
• Language Verification: Establish an internal protocol (e.g., standardized testing) to verify fluency if an employee intends to apply for the $5,000 "language of need" bonus. HR attestation will likely be required.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Site-Specific Tracking: For multi-site organizations, payroll and HR must track hours worked specifically at locations within counties of <150,000 population. Eligibility for the $10,000 rural bonus is site-specific, not just employer-specific.
• Annual Certification: Designate a specific authorized official (e.g., HR Director) to sign THECB employment verification forms to ensure consistency and prevent fraud.

Fees & Costs

• Cost Impact: Positive. This legislation allows employers to potentially reduce internal sign-on bonuses by substituting them with application assistance for this state-funded debt relief.
• No New Fees: There are no new filing fees for employers.