89R3277 MM-F
By: Goodwin H.B. No. 1934
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of
higher education for certain child-care workers.
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. CHILD-CARE EMPLOYEES ENROLLED IN CERTAIN
COURSES. (a) The governing board of an institution of higher
education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and required
fees charged by the institution for a child development or early
childhood education course or courses an undergraduate student who:
(1) is employed at a child-care facility licensed
under Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Human Resources Code;
(2) is enrolled in an associate degree or certificate
program in child development or early childhood education at the
institution;
(3) is making satisfactory academic progress toward
the student's degree or certificate program as determined by the
institution; and
(4) applies for the exemption not later than the
seventh day before the last date of the institution's regular
registration period for the applicable semester or other term.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a student may not
receive an exemption under that subsection for any course if the
student has previously attempted a number of semester credit hours
for courses taken at any institution of higher education while
classified as a resident student for tuition purposes in excess of
the maximum number of those hours specified by Section 61.0595(a)
as eligible for funding under the formulas established under
Section 61.059.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the governing board of
an institution of higher education may not provide exemptions under
that subsection to students enrolled in a specific class in a number
that exceeds 20 percent of the maximum student enrollment
designated by the institution for that class.
(d) 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.
(e) The 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.
(f) If the legislature does not specifically appropriate
funds to an institution of higher education in an amount sufficient
to pay the institution's costs in complying with this section for a
semester, the governing board of the institution of higher
education shall report to the Senate Finance Committee and the
House Appropriations Committee the cost to the institution of
complying with this section for that semester.
SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 54.3532, Education
Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the
effective date of this Act.
(b) Section 54.3532, Education Code, as added by this Act,
applies beginning with tuition and required fees charged for the
2025 fall semester. Tuition and required 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, 2025.