By Solis of Cameron                                   H.B. No. 2127
         76R4696 JSA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to exempting certain children of emergency medical
 1-3     services personnel killed in the line of duty from higher education
 1-4     tuition and fees.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 54.2042 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 54.2042.  CHILDREN OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
 1-9     PERSONNEL KILLED ON DUTY.  (a)  In this section, "emergency medical
1-10     services," "emergency medical services personnel," and "emergency
1-11     medical services provider" have the meanings assigned by Section
1-12     773.003, Health and Safety Code.
1-13           (b)  A person is exempt from the payment of tuition and
1-14     required fees at an institution of higher education if the person:
1-15                 (1)  is 25 years of age or younger;
1-16                 (2)  is a Texas resident entitled to pay tuition at the
1-17     rate provided for Texas residents;
1-18                 (3)  is enrolled as an undergraduate student; and
1-19                 (4)  is the child of a person who was killed or died as
1-20     the direct result of injuries sustained while providing emergency
1-21     medical services for an emergency medical services provider
1-22     licensed under Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code, when the person
1-23     was certified as emergency medical services personnel.
1-24           (c)  A person may not receive an exemption under this section
 2-1     for more than 150 semester credit hours.
 2-2           (d)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
 2-3     adopt rules for the administration of this section.
 2-4           SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with tuition and fees
 2-5     charged for the 1999 fall semester.
 2-6           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-11     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-12     passage, and it is so enacted.