1-1 By: Lucio, et al. S.B. No. 1902 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed May 3, 1999; May 3, 1999, read first 1-3 time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military 1-4 Installations; May 7, 1999, reported favorably, as amended, by the 1-5 following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 7, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 By: Ogden 1-7 Amend S.B. 1902 (introduced version) as follows: 1-8 (1) In proposed Section 54.219(e), Education Code (page 1, 1-9 line 54), strike "money" and substitute "revenue". 1-10 (2) In proposed Section 54.219(e), Education Code (page 1, 1-11 line 55), strike "may" and substitute "shall". 1-12 (3) At the end of proposed Section 54.219(e), Education Code 1-13 (page 1, line 56), after the period, add "The institution shall use 1-14 gifts, grants, and donations received for the purposes of this 1-15 section before using any other revenue.". 1-16 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-17 AN ACT 1-18 relating to the provision of tuition and fee exemptions, stipends, 1-19 and scholarships for certain former prisoners of war from Texas 1-20 attending a public college or university. 1-21 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-22 SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Steven 1-23 Gonzales-Prisoner of War Higher Education Act. 1-24 SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is 1-25 amended by adding Section 54.219 to read as follows: 1-26 Sec. 54.219. PRISONERS OF WAR. (a) In this section, 1-27 "tuition and required fees" includes tuition, service fees, lab 1-28 fees, building use fees, and all other required fees except room, 1-29 board, or clothing fees or deposits in the nature of security for 1-30 the return or proper care of property. 1-31 (b) For each semester or summer session and for a total 1-32 number of semester credit hours not to exceed 120, the governing 1-33 body of each institution of higher education shall exempt from the 1-34 payment of tuition and required fees any person who: 1-35 (1) is a resident of Texas; 1-36 (2) was first classified as a prisoner of war by the 1-37 United States Department of Defense on or after January 1, 1999; 1-38 and 1-39 (3) is enrolled for at least 12 semester credit hours. 1-40 (c) For each semester or session in which a person receives 1-41 an exemption from tuition and required fees under Subsection (b), 1-42 the governing body of the institution the person attends shall 1-43 exempt the person from the payment of fees and charges for lodging 1-44 and board if the person resides on the campus of the institution. 1-45 If the person does not reside on the campus of the institution, the 1-46 institution shall provide to the person a reasonable stipend to 1-47 cover the costs of the person's lodging and board. 1-48 (d) For each semester or session in which a person receives 1-49 an exemption from tuition and required fees under Subsection (b), 1-50 the governing body of the institution the person attends shall 1-51 award to the person a scholarship to cover the costs of books and 1-52 similar educational materials required for course work at the 1-53 institution. 1-54 (e) An institution may use any available money, including 1-55 legislative appropriations, and may solicit and accept gifts, 1-56 grants, and donations for the purposes of this section. 1-57 SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 1999 fall 1-58 semester. 1-59 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-60 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-61 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-62 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-63 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-1 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-2 passage, and it is so enacted. 2-3 * * * * *