A mental health professional is eligible for repayment assistance only if the person applies to the board and meets the listed service-and-experience requirements.
Sec. 61.603. ELIGIBILITY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), to be eligible to receive repayment assistance under this subchapter, a mental health professional must: (1) apply to the board; (2) have completed one, two, or three consecutive years of practice in a mental health professional shortage area designated by the Department of State Health Services; and (3) provide mental health services in this state to: (A) recipients under the medical assistance program authorized by Chapter 32, Human Resources Code; (B) enrollees under the child health plan program authorized by Chapter 62, Health and Safety Code; or (C) persons committed to a secure correctional facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or persons confined in a secure correctional facility operated by or under contract with any division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. (b) A mental health professional may also establish eligibility for the repayment assistance under this subchapter by satisfying the requirements of this subsection. To establish eligibility under this subsection, the mental health professional must: (1) apply to the board; (2) provide mental health services to: (A) patients in a state hospital, as defined by Section 552.0011, Health and Safety Code; (B) individuals receiving community-based mental health services from a local mental health authority that provides the services in accordance with Subchapter B, Chapter 534, Health and Safety Code; or (C) students enrolled in a public school in this state; and (3) have completed one, two, or three consecutive years of practice in this state as described by Subdivision (2). Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 956, Sec. 8.12, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 322 (S.B. 239), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 678 (H.B. 1211), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 705 (H.B. 2100), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1069 (S.B. 532), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023. Reenacted and amended by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1180 (S.B. 646), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.