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.