By Van de Putte H.B. No. 2061
75R5564 JSA-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to requiring certain individuals to file a statement of
1-3 selective service status before enrolling in a public institution
1-4 of higher education or receiving certain financial assistance.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
1-7 amended by adding Section 51.9095 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 51.9095. STUDENT COMPLIANCE WITH SELECTIVE SERVICE
1-9 REGISTRATION. (a) An individual may not enroll in an institution
1-10 of higher education unless the individual files a statement of the
1-11 individual's selective service status with the institution as
1-12 required by this section.
1-13 (b) An individual may not receive a loan, grant,
1-14 scholarship, or other financial assistance funded by state revenue,
1-15 including federal funds or gifts and grants accepted by this state,
1-16 or receive a student loan guaranteed by this state or the Texas
1-17 Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, unless the individual files a
1-18 statement of the individual's selective service status with the
1-19 institution or other entity granting or guaranteeing the financial
1-20 assistance as required by this section.
1-21 (c) If an individual required by this section to file a
1-22 statement of the individual's selective service status files a
1-23 statement indicating that the individual is registered with the
1-24 selective service system as required by federal law, the individual
2-1 is not required to file a statement of the individual's selective
2-2 service status the next time the individual seeks to enroll in the
2-3 same institution or makes an application to the same entity for
2-4 financial assistance or a student loan guarantee. If an individual
2-5 required by this section to file a statement of the individual's
2-6 selective service status files a statement indicating that the
2-7 individual is not required to register with the selective service
2-8 system, the institution or other entity shall require the
2-9 individual to file a new statement of the individual's selective
2-10 service status the next time the individual seeks to enroll in the
2-11 institution or makes an application to the entity for financial
2-12 assistance or a student loan guarantee.
2-13 (d) This section does not apply to:
2-14 (1) a female individual if females are not subject to
2-15 general selective service registration under federal law; or
2-16 (2) an individual older than the maximum age at which
2-17 an individual is required to be registered with the selective
2-18 service system under federal law.
2-19 (e) The statement of an individual's selective service
2-20 status required by this section must require the individual to
2-21 certify that the individual:
2-22 (1) has registered with the selective service system
2-23 as required by federal law; or
2-24 (2) is exempt from selective service registration
2-25 under federal law.
2-26 (f) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
2-27 adopt rules for the administration of this section and shall
3-1 prescribe the form of a statement to be used under this section.
3-2 The coordinating board shall distribute copies of the form and
3-3 applicable rules to each institution of higher education. The form
3-4 must require an individual claiming to be exempt from registration
3-5 to specify the basis of the exemption. The coordinating board may
3-6 require an individual filing a statement of selective service
3-7 status to include with the statement any additional information or
3-8 documentation the coordinating board determines appropriate.
3-9 SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
3-10 Board shall prescribe the form for a statement of selective service
3-11 status and adopt rules as required by Section 51.9095, Education
3-12 Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 1998.
3-13 (b) The requirement that an individual file a statement of
3-14 selective service status in accordance with Section 51.9095,
3-15 Education Code, as added by this Act, takes effect January 1,
3-16 1998.
3-17 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.