88R5767 CXP-D
By: Raney H.B. No. 3997
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to reporting and data collection requirements in relation
to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher
education for certain military personnel and their family members.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.341(h), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(h) The governing board of each institution of higher
education shall electronically report to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board [Veterans Commission] the information required
by Section 61.0516 [434.00791, 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.
SECTION 2. Section 434.00791, Government Code, is
transferred to Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code,
redesignated as Section 61.0516, Education Code, and amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.0516 [434.00791]. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO MONITOR
TUITION 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)] The board [commission] shall maintain [ensure] a
system to electronically monitor the use of tuition and fee
exemptions at institutions of higher education under Section
54.341[, Education Code, is developed]. The system must allow the
board [commission] to electronically receive, for each semester,
the following information from institutions of higher education:
(1) the name of the institution;
(2) the name, identification number, and date of birth
of each individual attending the institution and receiving benefits
for the semester under Section 54.341[, Education Code];
(3) for each individual receiving benefits, the number
of credit hours for which the individual received an exemption for
the semester;
(4) 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; and
(5) any other information required by the board
[commission].
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply
beginning with tuition and fee exemptions under Section 54.341,
Education Code, for the 2023 fall semester. Tuition and fee
exemptions for a term or semester before the 2023 fall semester are
governed 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 4. 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, 2023.