BILL ANALYSIS
By: McClendon
Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, veterans tuition exemptions are not being monitored electronically. This lack of compiled information leads to inefficiencies and duplication. A central database could improve eligibility determinations and allow for a better method of promoting and delivering the benefits to veterans under the "Hazelwood Act."
CSHB 303 will require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop a system for institutions of higher education to electronically report or monitor certain veterans' and dependents' tuition exemptions.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 54.203 (i)) of this bill.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1 directs the governing boards of higher education institutions to electronically report veterans education information relating to the Hazelwood Act, to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. It also gives the Board the authority to adopt rules to implement this section.
SECTION 2 directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop an electronic system to monitor certain tuition exemptions of veterans at institutions of higher education. It also lays out what information is to be received, and this includes: the name of the institution, the name, ID number and date of birth of the individual attending the institution and receiving the Hazelwood benefits, the number of credit hours exempted each semester, and the total cumulative credit hours that have been exempted.
SECTION 3 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop the electronic system by October 1, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This act shall take effect immediately if it receives the necessary vote, otherwise it will take effect September 1, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute modifies the original bill by transferring the responsibility for monitoring the use of veterans tuition exemptions from the Texas Veterans Commission to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The substitute also authorizes the board to adopt rules to implement this act.