79R6231 JRJ-F

By:  Morrison                                                     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.