79R4421 CAS-D

By:  Miller                                                       H.B. No. 1170



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to readmission to a public institution of higher education 
of students who withdraw to perform active military service.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 51.9242 to read as follows:
	Sec. 51.9242.  READMISSION OF STUDENT WHO WITHDRAWS TO 
PERFORM ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE.  (a)  This section applies only to 
a student who withdraws from an institution of higher education to 
perform active military service as a member of the United States 
armed forces or the Texas National Guard, except that this section 
does not apply to a student who withdraws from an institution solely 
to perform one or more training exercises as a member of the Texas 
National Guard.
	(b)  For any academic term that begins after the date a 
student described by  Subsection (a) is released from active 
military service but not later than the first anniversary of that 
date, the institution of higher education from which the student 
withdrew shall readmit the student, without requiring 
reapplication, if the student is otherwise eligible to register for 
classes at the institution.
	(c)  An institution of higher education may adopt rules 
requiring reasonable proof from a student of the fact and duration 
of the student's active military service.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with readmissions to 
a public institution of higher education for the first semester or 
other academic term that begins after this Act takes effect.
	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, 2005.