Enrolled Bill Summary

            Under prior law, children of firefighters or peace officers killed or disabled in the line of duty were exempt from tuition and fees at public colleges and universities for a period of up to eight consecutive semesters, not including summer semesters, provided they applied for the exemption before their 21st birthday, met all entrance requirements, and remained in good academic standing. House Bill 459 amends the Education Code to make this exemption applicable to the first 120 undergraduate credit hours and to extend the application deadline for students eligible for special education programs to their 22nd birthday. The bill also terminates a student's eligibility for an exemption for any semester beginning after the student's 26th birthday. The revised eligibility requirements apply to students applying for an exemption on or after the date the law goes into effect.