| 1 | 1 | | By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 46 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to tuition exemptions at public institutions of higher |
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| 7 | 7 | | education for certain students who volunteer for outreach programs. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended by adding Section 54.223 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 54.223. STUDENTS VOLUNTEERING FOR OUTREACH PROGRAMS. |
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| 12 | 12 | | (a) The governing board of an institution of higher education may |
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| 13 | 13 | | exempt from the payment of tuition and fees for one course offered |
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| 14 | 14 | | by the institution per semester or other term any student enrolled |
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| 15 | 15 | | in the institution who: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) is 55 years of age or older; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) is a resident of this state for purposes of this |
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| 18 | 18 | | title or entitled to pay tuition at the rate provided by this |
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| 19 | 19 | | chapter for residents of this state; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | (3) serves as a volunteer for at least 10 hours per |
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| 21 | 21 | | week or 40 hours per month for an outreach, mentoring, or |
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| 22 | 22 | | recruitment program that is designed to assist or encourage: |
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| 23 | 23 | | (A) persons to be admitted to and attend |
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| 24 | 24 | | institutions of higher education; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (B) students who are currently enrolled in |
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| 26 | 26 | | institutions of higher education to complete their degree programs; |
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| 27 | 27 | | or |
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| 28 | 28 | | (C) students who are enrolled in developmental |
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| 29 | 29 | | coursework to successfully complete that coursework. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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| 31 | 31 | | adopt rules necessary for the administration of this section. |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 2. (a) Section 54.223, Education Code, as added by |
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| 33 | 33 | | this Act, applies beginning with the 2010 spring semester. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (b) Not later than December 1, 2009, the Texas Higher |
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| 35 | 35 | | Education Coordinating Board shall adopt the initial rules required |
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| 36 | 36 | | by Section 54.223, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 38 | 38 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 39 | 39 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 40 | 40 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 41 | 41 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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