84R10534 JRJ-F
By: Rodriguez of Travis H.B. No. 3273
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the exemption of tuition and fees at public
institutions of higher education for certain certified or licensed
paramedics.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.3532 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.3532. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER ENROLLED
IN MEDICAL COURSES. (a) The governing board of an institution of
higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and
laboratory fees any student enrolled in one or more courses offered
as part of a medical curriculum who:
(1) is employed by a political subdivision of this
state as an emergency medical technician certified by the
Department of State Health Services as provided by Chapter 773,
Health and Safety Code; or
(2) is currently, and has been for at least one year,
an active member of a municipal emergency medical services provider
and who holds an associate's degree as a licensed paramedic.
(b) An exemption provided under this section does not apply
to deposits that may be required in the nature of security for the
return or proper care of property loaned for the use of students.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a student who for a
semester or term at an institution of higher education receives an
exemption under this section may continue to receive the exemption
for a subsequent semester or term at any institution only if the
student makes satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or
certificate at that institution as determined by the institution
for purposes of financial aid.
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the exemption provided
under this section does not apply to any amount of additional
tuition the institution elects to charge a resident undergraduate
student under Section 54.014(a) or (f).
(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the exemption provided
under this section does not apply to any amount of tuition the
institution charges a graduate student in excess of the amount of
tuition charged to similarly situated graduate students because the
student has a number of semester credit hours of doctoral work in
excess of the applicable number provided by Section 61.059(l)(1) or
(2).
(f) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt:
(1) rules governing the granting or denial of an
exemption under this section, including rules relating to the
determination of a student's eligibility for an exemption; and
(2) a uniform listing of degree programs covered by
the exemption under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 54.3532, Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies beginning with tuition and laboratory fees
charged for the 2015 fall semester. Tuition and laboratory fees
charged for an academic period before that 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 September 1, 2015.