SRC-HRD H.B. 640 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 640
By: Kamel (Cain)
Finance
5-13-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Peace officers serve and protect the citizens and communities of 
Texas.  Due to the hazardous nature 
of their job, peace officers at times become permanently disabled 
in the line of duty and, in some 
cases, are unable to continue their employment as a peace 
officer.  In these cases, an officer may not 
have the educational background or needed experience for 
obtaining employment in another field. 
A disabled peace officer may need to obtain the necessary 
education and background for beginning 
a new career by attending a college or university.                
                         

This bill would provide eligible disabled peace officers a 
tuition exemption to attend state-supported 
institutions of higher education.                 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 640 provides eligible disabled peace officers a 
tuition exemption to attend 
state-supported institutions of higher education.                 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a 
state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter  54D, Education Code, by adding Section 
54.2041, as follows:

Sec. 54.2041.  DISABLED PEACE OFFICER.  (a) Authorizes the 
governing board of an 
institution of higher education to exempt a student from the 
payment of tuition and required 
fees authorized by this chapter for a course for which space 
is available if the student meets 
certain qualifications.  

(b) Prohibits a person from receiving an exemption under 
this section for more than 12 
semesters or while the person is enrolled in an 
undergraduate program or while the person 
is attending only undergraduate courses.  

(c) Prohibits a person from receiving an exemption under 
this section if the person is enrolled 
in a master's degree program or is attending postgraduate 
courses to meet the requirements 
of a master's degree program and the person has previously 
received a master's degree and 
received an exemption under this section for a semester or 
session while attending a 
postgraduate course to meet the requirements of the master's 
degree program.

(d) Prohibits a person from receiving an exemption under 
this section if the person is 
enrolled in a doctoral degree program or is attending 
postgraduate courses to meet the 
requirements of a doctoral degree and the person has 
previously received a doctoral degree 
and received an exemption under this section for a semester 
or session while attending a 
postgraduate course to meet the requirements of the doctoral 
degree program.

(e) Requires a person to apply for an exemption in the 
manner provided by the governing 
board of the institution.  Requires the governing board to 
require an applicant for an 
exemption to submit satisfactory evidence that the applicant 
is eligible for the exemption. 
 
(f) Requires the legislature, in an appropriations act, to 
account for the rates of tuition and 
fees authorized by Subsection (a) in a way that does not 
increase the general revenue 
appropriations to that institution.  

(g)  Defines "injury suffered during the performance of a 
duty as a peace officer."

(h) Sets forth the conditions under which a peace officer is 
considered permanently disabled 
for the purpose of this section.  

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with tuition 
and required fees imposed for 
the fall semester of 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.