By: Turner of Tarrant H.B. No. 3952
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of
higher education for the spouses of certain military personnel.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.203, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b-1), (g), and
(h) to read as follows:
(a-1) The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also
apply to the spouse of:
(1) a member of the armed forces of the United States:
(A) who was killed in action;
(B) who died while in service;
(C) who is missing in action;
(D) whose death is documented to be directly
caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed
forces of the United States; or
(E) who became totally disabled for purposes of
employability according to the disability ratings of the Department
of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related injury; or
(2) a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas
Air National Guard who:
(A) was killed since January 1, 1946, while on
active duty either in the service of this state or the United
States; or
(B) is totally disabled for purposes of
employability according to the disability ratings of the Department
of Veterans Affairs, regardless of whether the member is eligible
to receive disability benefits from the department, as a result of a
service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on
active duty either in the service of this state or the United
States.
(b-1) To qualify for an exemption under Subsection (a-1) or
(b), a person must be a citizen of Texas and must have resided in the
state for at least 12 months immediately preceding the date of the
person's registration.
(g) The governing board of a junior college district may
establish a fee for extraordinary costs associated with a specific
course or program and may provide that the exemptions provided by
Subsections (a), (a-1), and (b) do not apply to this fee.
(h) The governing board of each institution of higher
education shall electronically report to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board the information required by Section 61.0516
relating to each individual receiving an exemption from fees and
charges under Subsection (a), (a-1), or (b). The institution shall
report the information not later than December 31 of each year for
the fall semester, May 31 of each year for the spring semester, and
September 30 of each year for the summer session.
SECTION 2. Section 54.203, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged for
the 2009 fall semester. Tuition and other fees charged for an
academic period before that semester are covered by the law in
effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
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.