By: Patrick (Senate Sponsor - Gallegos) H.B. No. 1053
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 2011;
April 29, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher
Education; May 23, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 23, 2011, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the tuition exemption offered by public institutions of
higher education to firefighters enrolled in certain courses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.2082 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.2082. FIRE SCIENCE TUITION EXEMPTION ADVISORY
COMMITTEE. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall establish an advisory committee to develop recommendations
for the implementation of the tuition exemption for students
enrolled in courses offered as part of a fire science curriculum
offered under Section 54.208, as amended by Chapters 1285 (H.B.
2013) and 1299 (H.B. 2347), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular
Session, 2009, including a determination of the definition and
scope of fire science curriculum.
(b) The advisory committee must be composed of members from
institutions of higher education, experts in the fire sciences, and
firefighters.
(c) The advisory committee may request the cooperation and
assistance of state agencies in preparing recommendations under
this section.
(d) Not later than September 1, 2012, the advisory committee
shall issue a report of its recommendations to the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house, each standing committee of the
legislature with jurisdiction over higher education, and the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board.
(e) This section expires January 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. 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, 2011.
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