SRC-AXB C.S.S.B. 526 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 526
By: Luna
Veterans Affairs
3/16/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, the cost of tuition per hour at a state-supported institution is
about $69.  Several benefits for the State of Texas have been cited as a
result of waiving tuition for members of the Texas Military Forces.  Some
of the benefits include:  diversifying the military forces and providing
welltrained soldiers to respond to Texas emergencies; providing better
educated and more easily trained Texans for emerging technology jobs; and
assisting in retention and recruiting of qualified National Guard
candidates.  Waiving tuition may also respond to the Hopwood v. Texas
decision to assist in recruiting minority students for universities.
Providing educational assistance to members of the military forces is
estimated to cost between $2.7 and $5 million depending on the number of
applicants.  This bill would create a tuition assistance program for all
enlisted grades of the military forces in Texas, and sets forth
reimbursement procedures for public or private institutions of higher
learning. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 526 creates a tuition assistance program for eligible
members of the state military forces, and sets forth provisions regarding
tuition exemption and reimbursement procedures with public or private
institutions of higher learning. 

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 431F, Government Code, by adding Section
431.090, as follows: 

Sec.  431.090.  TUITION ASSISTANCE.  Provides tuition assistance to
eligible members of the state military forces (soldier) for the purpose of
encouraging voluntary membership, improving the soldiers' education level,
diversifying the composition of the forces, and enhancing Texas' workforce.
Defines "institution of higher education" and "private or independent
institution of higher education."  Sets forth eligibility requirements for
a person receiving tuition assistance.  Requires the adjutant general
(general) to grant tuition assistance to eligible persons, and sets forth
consideration requirements for the general. Authorizes the general to grant
tuition awards as the general considers necessary to meet recruitment and
retention needs.  Prohibits the number of tuition awards to members of the
Texas State Guard from exceeding 30 for any semester, unless the general
finds a compelling need to do so.  Sets forth courses for which tuition
assistance can be awarded.  Prohibits a person from receiving tuition
assistance if the person exceeds a certain number of credit hours or
semesters.  Requires the general to submit a list of tuition assistance
recipients to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (coordinating
board) by a certain deadline. Requires the coordinating board to determine
if there is enough money to fund tuition awards subsequent to receipt of
the general's list.  Requires the coordinating board to notify the general
of insufficient tuition award funds, which will require the general to
reduce the number of awards and submit a revised list of awardees. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 54D, Education Code, by adding Section 54.2155,
as follows: 

 Sec.  54.2155.  PAYMENT OF TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF STATE
MILITARY FORCES.  Requires the coordinating board to use a certain
procedure to certify to certain educational institutions the persons
granted tuition awards by the general.  Requires an educational institution
to exempt certain persons from tuition payment, under certain conditions.
Prohibits the amount of tuition exemption from exceeding that which a
person would be charged as a Texas resident, under certain conditions
regarding the amount of credit hours.  Requires the coordinating board to
reimburse an educational institution in an equal amount to the amount of
tuition exemption granted to a person under Subsection (a), from funds
appropriated for the purposes of this section.  Requires the coordinating
board to award a grant to a person attending a private or independent
institution of higher learning. Provides that the grant amount is equal to
the average amount estimated to be allocated in Subsection (b). 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  January 1, 2000.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Relating clause.

Amends the relating clause to include private institutions of higher
education in the tuition payment assistance program. 

SECTION 1.

 Amends Sections 431.090(b) and (e), Government Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 2.

Amends Section 54.2155, Education Code, by adding Subsection (c), to
require the coordinating board to award a grant to a person attending a
private or independent institution of higher learning.  Provides that the
grant amount is equal to the average amount estimated to be allocated in
Subsection (b).  Makes conforming changes.