79R6231 JRJ-F


By:  Morrison, Berman, Corte, Escobar, Chavez                     H.B. No. 2807



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to vouchers for tuition and required fees at certain 
institutions of higher education for students who sound "Taps" at a 
veteran's funeral.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 434.007, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	Sec. 434.007.  DUTIES.  (a) The commission shall:                       
		(1)  compile federal, state, and local laws enacted to 
benefit members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families 
and dependents;
		(2)  collect information relating to services and 
facilities available to veterans;
		(3)  cooperate with veterans service agencies in the 
state;                 
		(4)  inform members and veterans of the armed forces, 
their families and dependents, and military and civilian 
authorities about the existence or availability of:
			(A)  educational training and retraining 
facilities;                       
			(B)  health, medical, rehabilitation, and housing 
services and facilities; 
			(C)  employment and reemployment services;                                   
			(D)  provisions of federal, state, and local law 
affording rights, privileges, and benefits to members and veterans 
of the armed forces and their families and dependents;  and
			(E)  other similar, related, or appropriate 
matters;                       
		(5)  assist veterans and their families and dependents 
in presenting, proving, and establishing claims, privileges, 
rights, and benefits they may have under federal, state, or local 
law;
		(6)  cooperate with all government and private agencies 
securing services or benefits to veterans and their families and 
dependents;
		(7)  investigate, and if possible correct, abuses or 
exploitation of veterans or their families or dependents, and 
recommend necessary legislation for full correction;
		(8)  coordinate the services and activities of state 
departments and divisions having services and resources affecting 
veterans or their families or dependents; and
		(9)  provide training and certification of veterans 
county service officers and assistant veterans county service 
officers in accordance with Section 434.038.
	(b)  The commission shall establish a program to issue 
vouchers to be exchanged for an exemption from the payment of 
tuition and required fees at an institution of higher education as 
provided by Section 54.215, Education Code, to students in grades 6 
through 12 or at postsecondary educational institutions who sound 
"Taps" on a bugle, trumpet, or cornet during military honors 
funerals held in this state for deceased veterans.  A voucher must 
be issued in the amount of $25 for each time a student sounds "Taps" 
as described by this subsection.
	(c)  The commission by rule shall design a form for the 
vouchers and distribute the form, with an explanation of the form's 
use, to each funeral director in this state for issuance to a person 
who is eligible to receive a voucher under Subsection (b).  The 
commission may not charge a fee for distribution of the form.
	(d)  The commission shall encourage a private or independent 
institution of higher education to grant a tuition and fee 
exemption in exchange for a voucher.
	(e)  A voucher issued under this section may be used by the 
student at any time and is not transferable.
	(f)  In this section, "institution of higher education" and 
"private or independent institution of higher education" have the 
meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
	SECTION 2.  Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  A school district may excuse a student in grades 6 
through 12 for the purpose of sounding "Taps" at a military honors 
funeral held in this state for a deceased veteran.  A student whose 
absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for 
that absence and shall be counted as if the student attended school 
for purposes of calculating the average daily attendance of 
students in the school district.  A student whose absence is excused 
under this subsection shall be allowed a reasonable time to make up 
school work missed on those days.  If the student satisfactorily 
completes the school work, the day of absence shall be counted as a 
day of compulsory attendance.
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 54.215 to read as follows:
	Sec. 54.215.  PARTICIPANTS IN MILITARY FUNERALS.  The 
governing board of each institution of higher education shall 
provide a $25 exemption from tuition and required fees under this 
chapter to a student in exchange for a voucher issued to the student 
under Section 434.007, Government Code, and presented by the 
student to the institution.
	SECTION 4.  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.