SRC-AXB S.B. 1902 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1902 76R14717 KEL-DBy: Lucio Veteran Affairs 5/7/1999 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST Currently, Texas does not provide educational financial assistance for its citizens who are former prisoners of war. S.B. 1902 creates payment exemptions and scholarships for certain former prisoners of war from Texas who attend a public college or university. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1902 creates payment exemptions and scholarships for certain former prisoners of war from Texas who attend a public college or university. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Provides that this Act may be cited as the Steven Gonzales-Prisoner of War Higher Education Act. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 54D, Education Code, by adding Section 54.219, as follows: Sec. 54.219. PRISONERS OF WAR. Describes "tuition and required fees." Requires the governing body of each institution of higher education (authority) to exempt certain individuals from required tuition payments for a maximum of 120 credit hours. Requires the authority to exempt certain individuals from the payment for campus lodging and board fees. Requires the institution of higher education to provide a reasonable stipend to cover the offcampus lodging and board costs of certain individuals. Requires the authority to award a scholarship to pay for required course work supplies for certain individuals. Authorizes an institution of higher education to use any available revenue to accomplish the purposes of this section and requires the institution to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations. Requires the institution to use the gifts, grants, and donations before using any other revenue to accomplish the purposes of this section. SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999 fall semester. SECTION 4.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.219(e), Education Code, to require, rather than authorize, an institution of higher education to solicit certain sources of revenue, and adds text regarding the spending priority for the purposes of this section.