85R7573 KJE-D
By: Holland H.B. No. 1590
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of
higher education for certain military personnel dependents.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 54.341(a-2) and (b), Education Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a-2) The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also
apply to the spouse of:
(1) a member of the armed forces of the United States:
(A) who was killed in action;
(B) who died while in service;
(C) who is missing in action;
(D) whose death is documented to be directly
caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed
forces of the United States; or
(E) who, as a result of a service-related injury:
(i) became at least 80 percent disabled
according to the disability ratings of the United States Department
of Defense; or
(ii) became totally and permanently disabled
or meets the eligibility requirements for individual
unemployability according to the disability ratings of the
Department of Veterans Affairs [as a result of a service-related
injury]; or
(2) a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas
Air National Guard who:
(A) was killed since January 1, 1946, while on
active duty either in the service of this state or the United
States; or
(B) as a result of a service-related injury
suffered since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the
service of this state or the United States:
(i) is at least 80 percent disabled
according to the disability ratings of the United States Department
of Defense, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive
disability benefits from the department; or
(ii) is totally and permanently disabled or
meets the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability
according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive
disability benefits from the department[, as a result of a
service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on
active duty either in the service of this state or the United
States].
(b) The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also apply
to:
(1) the children of members of the armed forces of the
United States:
(A) who are or were killed in action;
(B) who die or died while in service;
(C) who are missing in action;
(D) whose death is documented to be directly
caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed
forces of the United States; or
(E) who, as a result of a service-related injury:
(i) became at least 80 percent disabled
according to the disability ratings of the United States Department
of Defense; or
(ii) became totally and permanently disabled
or meet the eligibility requirements for individual
unemployability according to the disability ratings of the
Department of Veterans Affairs [as a result of a service-related
injury]; and
(2) the children of members of the Texas National
Guard and the Texas Air National Guard who:
(A) were killed since January 1, 1946, while on
active duty either in the service of their state or the United
States; or
(B) as a result of a service-related injury
suffered since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the
service of this state or the United States:
(i) are at least 80 percent disabled
according to the disability ratings of the United States Department
of Defense, regardless of whether the members are eligible to
receive disability benefits from the department; or
(ii) are totally and permanently disabled or
meet the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability
according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, regardless of whether the members are eligible to receive
disability benefits from the department[, as a result of a
service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on
active duty either in the service of this state or the United
States].
SECTION 2. Section 54.341, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies to an exemption from the payment of all or part of
tuition or other fees beginning with tuition and fees charged for
the 2018 fall semester.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.