SRC-AAA S.B. 565 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 565
By: Truan
Finance
4-4-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas National Guard members have greater educational demands
placed upon them to possess the skills to operate and maintain highly
technical military equipment.  Therefore, in order to attract and retain
highly qualified personnel there is a need to assist these young Texans
with tuition assistance for their schooling. This bill exempts certain
members of the Texas National Guard from paying tuition at institutions of
higher education. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 565 exempts certain members of the Texas National Guard
from paying tuition at 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 54.251,
as follows: 

Sec. 54.2151. NATIONAL GUARD EXEMPTION. Requires the governing board of
each institution of higher education to exempt eligible members of the
Texas National Guard from payment of all tuition.  Sets forth the
eligibility requirements for the exemption.  Provides that a summer term
or other academic session that is less than nine weeks is considered
onehalf of a regular semester, and  a withdrawn semester or a semester
which was incomplete due to mobilization or call to duty does not count
towards eligibility requirements.  Requires a person who receives an
exemption to enlist for two years of additional duty in the Texas National
Guard from the  date of the last day of the semester or other session for
which an exemption is received. Defines "Texas National Guard." 

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act takes effect beginning with the fall
semester in 1997. 

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