SRC-TNM H.B. 2394 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2394 By: Delisi (Fraser) Education 5-10-97 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, institutions of higher education are instructed to exempt veterans and veterans' dependents from the payment "of all dues, fees, and charges, including fees for correspondence courses but excluding property deposit fees, student service fees, and any fees or charges for lodging, board and clothing..." under Section 54.203(a), Education Code. This has afforded many veterans welldeserved exemptions and allowed them to attain quality education. However, the truck driving and aircraft flight training courses have high course fees for already under-funded programs. H.B. 2394 would exclude fees for truck driving and aircraft flight training courses from exemptions for veterans and veterans' dependents so that institutions of higher education may maintain the courses as part of their curricula and cease loss of revenue from these fee exemptions. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2394 outlines provisions regarding course fees charged for certain courses at public 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 Section 54.203, Education Code, by adding Subsection (g), to provide that the exemptions provided by Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a course fee or laboratory fee charged by an institution of higher education to cover the special costs associated with a particular course in truck driving or aircraft flight training. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with fees charged by an institution of higher education for the 1997 fall semester. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.