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.