BILL ANALYSIS



C.S.H.B. 3119
By: Hunter, B.
05-05-95
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

Under current law, a veteran or dependent of a veteran who
qualifies for an exemption from dues, fees, and charges under
Section 54.203 of the Education Code may not receive that exemption
if her or she is eligible for educational benefits under federal
legislation in effect at the time of his or her registration.

In some instances, this has meant that an individual has lost the
ability to claim an exemption from tuition and fees even though the
federal aid for which he or she is eligible is substantially
smaller than the exemption for which he or she would otherwise be
eligible.


PURPOSE

If enacted, C.S.H.B. 3119 allows an individual to accept either the
federal educational benefits available to him or her or the Hinson-Hazelwood exemption, whichever is greater.


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 Section 54 D, Education Code, Section
54.203(d) to read as follows:

     Sec. 54.203. VETERANS, DEPENDENTS, ETC.  (d) The Hinson-Hazelwood exemption does not apply to an individual who is
eligible for federal benefits if those benefits are equal to or
greater than the exemption, except it also requires that the
federal benefits be utilized first before the exemption is taken
and that the combined amount of the federal benefits and
exemption shall not exceed the exemption.

SECTION 2.     Emergency clause.
           Effective date:  upon passage.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

In Sec. 54.203 (d), the original bill stated that the Hinson-Hazelwood exemption is not available to an individual who was
eligible for federal benefits if those benefits were greater than
the Hinson-Hazelwood exemption.

The committee substitute contains identical language but also
adds that an individual must utilize all federal benefits first
and that the combined amount of the federal benefit and the
Hinson-Hazelwood exemption cannot exceed the maximum amount of
the Hinson-Hazelwood exemption.



SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 3119 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on
May 2, 1995.

The committee considered a complete substitute to the bill.

The bill was left pending.

H.B. 3119 was considered by the committee in a formal meeting on
May 5, 1995.

The committee considered a complete substitute for the bill.  The
substitute was adopted without objection by a non-record vote.

The bill was reported favorably as substituted, 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 7
ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 2 absent.