81R23626 JRJ-F
By: Lucio III, Marquez, Rios Ybarra H.B. No. 269
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 269:
By: Corte C.S.H.B. No. 269
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the award of course credit to a student at a public
institution of higher education for the completion of military
service.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.3042 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.3042. AWARD OF COURSE CREDIT FOR MILITARY SERVICE.
(a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) An institution of higher education shall award to an
undergraduate student who is admitted to the institution, including
a student who is readmitted under Section 51.9242, course credit
for all physical education courses required by the institution for
an undergraduate degree and for additional semester credit hours,
not to exceed 12, that may be applied to satisfy any elective course
requirements for the student's degree program for courses outside
the student's major or minor if the student:
(1) graduated from a public or private high school in
this state accredited by a generally recognized accrediting
organization or from a high school operated by the United States
Department of Defense; and
(2) is an honorably discharged former member of the
armed forces of the United States who:
(A) completed at least two years of service in
the armed forces; or
(B) was discharged because of a disability.
(c) This section does not prohibit an institution of higher
education from awarding additional course credit for a student's
military service as the institution considers appropriate.
(d) An institution of higher education may adopt rules
requiring reasonable proof from a student of the fact and duration
of the student's military service and of the student's military
discharge status.
SECTION 2. Section 51.3042, Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies to a student attending an institution of higher
education, without regard to whether the student was admitted to
the institution before the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.