88R3671 JTZ-D
By: Goodwin H.B. No. 742
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of
higher education for certain county jailers and law enforcement
telecommunicators.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.3531(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The governing board of an institution of higher
education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory
fees charged by the institution for a criminal justice or law
enforcement course or courses an undergraduate student who:
(1) is employed [as a peace officer] by this state or
by a political subdivision of this state as:
(A) a peace officer;
(B) a county jail guard under Section 85.005,
Local Government Code; or
(C) a telecommunicator required to hold a
telecommunicator license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations
Code;
(2) is enrolled in a criminal justice or law
enforcement-related degree program at the institution;
(3) is making satisfactory academic progress toward
the student's degree as determined by the institution; and
(4) applies for the exemption at least one week before
the last date of the institution's regular registration period for
the applicable semester or other term.
SECTION 2. Section 54.3531, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged for
the 2023 fall semester. Tuition and other fees charged for an
academic period before that 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 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, 2023.