89R2098 JTZ-D
By: Hughes S.B. No. 2097
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of
higher education for certain peace officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.3531, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) 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 a [an undergraduate] student who:
(1) is employed as a peace officer by this state or by
a political subdivision of this state;
(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.
(a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), a law
enforcement-related degree program includes a program in:
(1) criminal justice;
(2) political science, public administration, and
public affairs;
(3) emergency management;
(4) youth and community studies;
(5) law;
(6) Spanish or any other foreign language commonly
spoken in this state;
(7) business administration and accounting, including
forensic accounting;
(8) psychology;
(9) social work, including clinical social work;
(10) nursing;
(11) chemistry;
(12) biology;
(13) forensic science; or
(14) computer science, data science, and
cybersecurity.
SECTION 2. Section 54.3531, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged for
the 2025 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, 2025.