By: Van de Putte S.R. No. 1079
SENATE RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd
Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, That Senate Rule 12.03 be
suspended in part as provided by Senate Rule 12.08 to enable the
conference committee appointed to resolve the differences on
Senate Bill 1158 (relating to higher education for veterans and
their families) to consider and take action on the following
matters:
(1) Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the
committee to add text on matters which are not included in either
the house or senate version of the bill in SECTION 1 of the bill
by amending Sections 54.341(d), (h), and (l), Education Code, to
read as follows:
(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, in the form and manner prescribed by the Texas
Veterans Commission for purposes of this section under Section
434.0079(b), Government Code, an application for the exemption
and necessary [satisfactory] evidence that the applicant
qualifies for the exemption not later than the last class date of
the semester or term to which the exemption applies, except that
the governing board may encourage the submission of an
application and evidence by the official day of record for the
semester or term to which the exemption applies on which the
institution must determine the enrollment that is reported to the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board [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].
(h) The governing board of each institution of higher
education shall electronically report to the Texas Veterans
Commission [Higher Education Coordinating Board] the information
required by Section 434.00791, Government Code, [61.0516]
relating to each individual receiving an exemption from fees and
charges under Subsection (a), (a-2), [or] (b), or (k). The
institution shall report the information not later than January
31 [December 31] of each year for the fall semester, June 30 [May
31] of each year for the spring semester, and September 30 of each
year for the summer session.
(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) as a graduate or undergraduate student,
maintain a grade point average that satisfies the grade point
average requirement for making [make] satisfactory academic
progress in a degree, certificate, or continuing education
program as determined by the institution at which the child is
enrolled in accordance with the institution's policy regarding
eligibility for [of the institution's] financial aid; and
(3) be 25 years of age or younger on the first day of
the semester or other academic term for which the exemption is
claimed [department, except that the institution may not require
the child to enroll in a minimum course load].
Explanation: These changes are necessary to clarify the
reporting and eligibility requirements for certain tuition
exemptions awarded to veterans and their families.
(2) Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the
committee to add text on a matter which is not included in either
the house or senate version of the bill in SECTION 2 of the bill
by adding Section 54.3411(e), Education Code, to read as follows:
(e) The amount available for distribution from the fund
may be appropriated only to offset the cost to institutions of
higher education of the exemptions required by Section
54.341(k). The amount appropriated shall be distributed to
eligible institutions in proportion to each institution's
respective share of the aggregate cost to all institutions of the
exemptions required by Section 54.341(k), as determined by the
Legislative Budget Board. The amount appropriated shall be
distributed annually to each eligible institution of higher
education.
Explanation: This change is necessary to clarify the
distribution of funds for certain tuition exemptions awarded to
children of veterans.
(3) Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the
committee to add text on a matter which is not included in either
the house or senate version of the bill in SECTION 3 of the bill
by adding Section 434.0079(c), Government Code, to read as
follows:
(c) The commission shall adopt rules governing the
coordination of federal and state benefits of a person eligible
to receive an exemption under Section 54.341(k), Education Code,
including rules governing:
(1) the total number of credit hours assigned under
that section that a person may apply to an individual degree or
certificate program, consistent with the standards of the
appropriate recognized regional accrediting agency; and
(2) the application of the assigned exemption to
credit hours for which the institution of higher education does
not receive state funding.
Explanation: This change is necessary to require rules to
be adopted for the administration of certain tuition exemptions
awarded to veterans and their families.
_______________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 26, 2013, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate