78R1663 JSA-D

By:  Hochberg                                                     H.B. No. 255



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to exempting peace officers enrolled in law enforcement 
programs from tuition charged by a public institution  of higher 
education.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 54.2085 to read as follows:
	Sec. 54.2085. (a)  PEACE OFFICER ENROLLED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 
PROGRAM. A person who is employed by an agency or political 
subdivision of this state as a peace officer for purposes of Section 
2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, and who with the consent of the 
employing agency or political subdivision is enrolled in a degree 
or certificate program in law enforcement, including a criminal 
justice or police science program, is exempt from the payment of 
tuition and fees for a course in which the person enrolls to satisfy 
a  requirement for the degree or certificate program.
	(b)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by rule 
shall prescribe procedures and forms to be used in determining the 
eligibility of a person for an exemption under this section.
	SECTION 2.  Section 1 of this Act applies beginning with 
tuition and fees for the 2004 fall semester.
	SECTION 3.   This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.