81R906 JRJ-D
By: Ellis S.B. No. 113
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to resident tuition rates at public institutions of higher
education for certain veterans and their dependents.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.058, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (k) and (l) to read as follows:
(k) The following persons are entitled to pay tuition and
fees at an institution of higher education at the rates provided for
Texas residents without regard to the length of time the person has
resided in this state so long as the person maintains a domicile in
this state during each semester or other term in which the person is
enrolled in the institution:
(1) a person who:
(A) is eligible for benefits under the federal
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No.
110-252) or any other federal law authorizing educational benefits
for veterans; and
(B) during enrollment participates in:
(i) a community service program approved
under rules of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; or
(ii) an internship or cooperative education
program administered by the institution; and
(2) a person who:
(A) is the spouse or a dependent child of a person
described by Subdivision (1)(A); and
(B) during enrollment participates in:
(i) a community service program approved
under rules of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; or
(ii) an internship or cooperative education
program administered by the institution.
(l) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules for the administration of Subsection (k), including
rules for the approval of community service programs for purposes
of that subsection.
SECTION 2. (a) Section 54.058(k), Education Code, as added
by this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged
for the first term or semester that begins after the effective date
of this Act, but not earlier than the 2009 fall semester. Tuition
and other fees charged for an academic period before that term or
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.
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules as provided by Section 54.058(l), Education Code, as
added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes
effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt the
initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.
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.