86R20058 MM-D
By: Schaefer H.B. No. 2557
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2557:
By: Schaefer C.S.H.B. No. 2557
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to collection and reporting of certain information
regarding tuition and fee exemptions granted by institutions of
higher education to veterans and their family members.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 54.341(h) and (o), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(h) The governing board of each institution of higher
education shall electronically report to the Texas Veterans
Commission the information required by Section 434.00791,
Government Code, and to the Legislative Budget Board the
information required by Section 322.025, Government Code, relating
to each individual receiving an exemption from fees and charges
under Subsection (a), (a-2), (b), or (k). The institution shall
report the information not later than January 31 of each year for
the fall semester, June 30 of each year for the spring semester, and
September 30 of each year for the summer session.
(o) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the
Legislative Budget Board, and the Texas Veterans Commission shall
coordinate to provide each respective agency with any information
required to ensure the proper administration of this section and
the proper execution of each agency's statutory responsibilities
concerning this section.
SECTION 2. Chapter 322, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 322.025 to read as follows:
Sec. 322.025. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORT REGARDING TUITION
AND FEE EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. (a) In this
section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned
by Section 61.003, Education Code.
(b) Using existing resources, the board shall collect from
each institution of higher education, for each semester, the
following information regarding tuition and fee exemptions granted
by the institution under Section 54.341, Education Code:
(1) the age of each individual attending the
institution and receiving benefits for the semester;
(2) for each individual receiving benefits, the number
of credit hours for which the individual received an exemption for
the semester;
(3) for each individual receiving benefits at the
institution during the semester, the total cumulative number of
credit hours for which the individual has received an exemption at
the institution;
(4) for each individual receiving benefits, whether
the person is a veteran or the family member of a veteran;
(5) in a manner that does not identify the person
receiving benefits and as indicated by official documentation from
the United States Department of Defense, for a veteran who is
eligible for benefits or whose service allows another person to be
eligible for benefits:
(A) whether the veteran served as an active duty
member or a member of a reserve component of the armed forces; and
(B) the veteran's length of service; and
(6) any other information required by the board.
(c) Not later than November 1 of each year, the board shall
submit to the legislature a report regarding the data collected by
the board under Subsection (b) for the most recent academic year.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply
beginning with tuition and fee exemptions granted under Section
54.341, Education Code, for the 2019 fall semester.
SECTION 4. Not later than November 1, 2020, the Legislative
Budget Board shall submit its initial report required under Section
322.025, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 5. 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, 2019.