By: Fraser S.B. No. 1102
(In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2003; March 17, 2003, read
first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and
Military Installations; April 22, 2003, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 22, 2003, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the eligibility of armed forces personnel and their
family members to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided to Texas
residents.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.058, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
(j) A member of the armed forces of the United States or the
child or spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States
who is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for
Texas residents under another provision of this section while
enrolled in a degree or certificate program is entitled to pay
tuition and fees at the rate provided for Texas residents in any
subsequent term or semester while the person is continuously
enrolled in the same degree or certificate program. For purposes of
this subsection, a person is not required to enroll in a summer term
to remain continuously enrolled in a degree or certificate program.
The person's eligibility to pay tuition and fees at the rate
provided for Texas residents under this subsection does not
terminate because the person is no longer a member of the armed
forces of the United States or the child or spouse of a member of the
armed forces of the United States.
SECTION 2. Subsection (j), Section 54.058, Education Code,
as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2003 fall semester
to a person who was a member of the armed forces of the United States
or the child or spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United
States entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for
Texas residents under Section 54.058, Education Code, while
enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a public institution
of higher education in this state in the 2003 spring semester or in
any term of the 2003 summer session.
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.
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