BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2342 By: Reyna May 4, 1995 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND Peace officers serve and protect citizens and communities of Texas. At times, a peace officer must place his or her life in jeopardy in order to carry out this duty. As a result, an officer may become permanently disabled in the line of duty and is often unable to continue employment. In these cases, an officer may not have the background or experience needed for obtaining employment in another field because of their service. A disabled peace officer may obtain the necessary education and background for beginning a new career by attending a college or university. PURPOSE If enacted, H.B. 2342 provides eligible disabled peace officers a tuition exemption to attend state- supported institutions of higher education. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 54 D, Education Code, by adding Section 54.2041 to read as follows: Sec. 54.2041. DISABLED PEACE OFFICERS. (a) A student is exempt from the payment of tuition and required fees for a term or semester if the student has resided in this state for 12 months immediately preceding the beginning of the semester or term for which exemption is sought; is permanently disabled as a result of an injury suffered during the performance of duty as a peace officer; and is unable to continue employment as a peace officer because of the disability. (b) An exemption is limited to 12 semesters or terms. (c) This section does not apply to a person enrolled in a master's degree program or attending postgraduate courses for a master's degree program under this section. (d) This section does not apply to a person enrolled in a doctoral degree program or attending postgraduate courses for a doctoral degree program under this section. (e) A person must apply for an exemption in the manner provided by the institution in which the student registers. SECTION 2. Effective date: Fall, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS The amendment strikes lines 8-9 on page 1 and makes the bill permissive. The amendment states that the governing board of an institution of higher education may exempt a student from the payment of tuition and required fees. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION H.B. 2342 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on April 4, 1995. The following persons testified in favor of the bill: Mr. Michael P. Mitchell; and Mr. Charley Wilkison. The bill was referred to the subcommittee on tuition exemptions consisting of Representative Rodriguez as chair and Representative Goolsby and Ogden as members. H.B. 2342 was considered by the subcommittee in a public hearing on April 26, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without amendment to the full committee by a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 0 absent. H.B. 2342 was considered on subcommittee report by the committee in a formal meeting on May 3, 1995. The committee considered an amendment to the bill. The amendment was adopted without objection by a non-record vote. The bill was reported favorably as amended, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 1 absent.