83R9498 JRJ-D
By: Patrick H.B. No. 2555
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to tuition and fee exemptions for certain military
personnel and their dependents.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.341, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (c), (d), and (l) and adding Subsection (o) to
read as follows:
(c) A person may not receive exemptions provided for by this
section for more than a cumulative total of 135 [150] credit hours.
(d) The governing board of each institution of higher
education granting an exemption under this section shall require
each applicant claiming the exemption to submit to the institution
an application for the exemption and satisfactory evidence that the
applicant qualifies for the exemption not later than the 12th class
day of the semester or term to which the exemption applies [one year
after the earlier of the date the institution:
[(1) provides written notice to the applicant of the
applicant's eligibility for the exemption; or
[(2) receives a written acknowledgement from the
applicant evidencing the applicant's awareness of the applicant's
eligibility for the exemption].
(l) To be eligible to receive an exemption under Subsection
(k), the child must:
(1) be a student who is classified as a resident under
Subchapter B when the child enrolls in an institution of higher
education; and
(2) meet the [make] satisfactory academic progress
requirements of this section [in a degree, certificate, or
continuing education program as determined by the institution at
which the child is enrolled in accordance with the policy of the
institution's financial aid department, except that the
institution may not require the child to enroll in a minimum course
load].
(o) To receive an exemption provided by this section, a
person otherwise eligible for the exemption must make satisfactory
academic progress toward a degree or certificate at the institution
by maintaining an overall grade point average of at least 2.5 on a
4-point scale or the equivalent on all course work attempted by the
person at the institution.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply
beginning with tuition and fees for the 2013 fall semester. Tuition
and fees for a term or semester before the 2013 fall 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.