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.