SRC-JFA H.B. 2214 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 2214
By: Delisi (Fraser)
Finance
5-9-97
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Education Code grants veterans and their dependents
exemptions from tuition and most fees.  The section for continuing
education courses states that those exemptions do not apply to courses for
which an institution does not receive formula funding, such as
correspondence courses.  Correspondence courses may serve as a military
person's source of a quality education as such a person moves from one
installation to another.  This bill would grant exemptions from tuition
and fees for correspondence courses to individuals currently eligible for
exemptions from other courses and fees under Section 54.203, Education
Code, relating to educational cost exemptions for certain veterans and
dependents of certain veterans.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2214 grants exemptions from tuition and fees for
correspondence courses to individuals currently eligible for exemptions
from other courses and fees under Section 54.203, Education Code, relating
to educational cost exemptions for certain veterans and dependents of
veterans. 

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 Section 54.545, Education Code, by amending Subsection
(c), to provide that Subchapters B and D do not apply to a fee charged
under this section, except that a governing board of an institution of
higher education may grant an exemption provided by Section 54.203 if such
an exemption will not result in an increased cost to other students or
does not diminish the availability of correspondence courses.   

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amendment 1. 

Page 1, lines 5-10, replaces SECTION 1, Section 54.545, Education Code,
amending Subsection (c), to provide that Subchapters B and D do not apply
to a fee charged under this section, except a fee for a correspondence
course taken by a student who would qualify for an exemption from tuition
under Section 54.203 Education Code, with SECTION 1, Section 54.545,
Education Code, amending Subsection (c), to provide that Subchapters B and
D do not apply to a fee charged under this section, except that a
governing board of an institution of higher education may grant an
exemption provided by Section 54.203 if such an exemption will not result
in an increased cost to other students or does not diminish the
availability of correspondence courses.