By Junell H.B. No. 767 75R3535 CAG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to an exemption from tuition and fees at a public 1-3 institution of higher education for certain students in foster or 1-4 other residential care. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Section 54.211, Education Code, is amended to 1-7 read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 54.211. EXEMPTIONS FOR STUDENTS IN FOSTER OR OTHER 1-9 RESIDENTIAL CARE. A student is exempt from the payment of tuition 1-10 and fees authorized in this chapter if the student: 1-11 (1) was in foster care or other residential care under 1-12 the conservatorship of the Department of Protective and Regulatory 1-13 Services: 1-14 (A) when the student graduated from high school 1-15 or received the equivalent of a high school diploma; or 1-16 (B) on or after the day preceding the student's 1-17 18th birthday; and 1-18 (2) enrolls in an institution of higher education as 1-19 an undergraduate student not later than the third anniversary of 1-20 the date the student was discharged from the foster or other 1-21 residential care, the date the student graduated from high school, 1-22 or the date the student received the equivalent of a high school 1-23 diploma, whichever date is earliest. 1-24 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 1997 fall 2-1 semester. 2-2 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-3 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-7 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-8 passage, and it is so enacted.