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a summer term or other academic session that is less than nine weeks is considered onehalf of a regular semester, and a withdrawn semester or a semester which was incomplete due to mobilization or call to duty does not count towards eligibility requirements.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.