By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 101

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to efficiently administering and electronically monitoring certain veterans' and dependents' tuition exemptions at institutions of higher education. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 54.203, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (h) and (i) to read as follows: (h) The governing board of each institution of higher education shall electronically report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the information required by Section 61.0516 relating to each individual receiving an exemption from fees and charges under Subsection (a) or (b). The institution shall report the information not later than December 31 of each year for the fall semester, May 31 of each year for the spring semester, and September 30 of each year for the summer session. (i) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules to provide for the efficient and uniform application of this section. SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.0516 to read as follows: Sec. 61.0516. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO MONITOR TUITION EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS. The board shall develop a system to electronically monitor the use of tuition exemptions under Section 54.203. The system must allow the board to electronically receive, for each semester, the following information from institutions of higher education: (1) the name of the institution; (2) the name, identification number, and date of birth of each individual attending the institution and receiving benefits for the semester under Section 54.203; (3) for each individual receiving benefits, the number of credit hours for which the individual received an exemption for the semester; (4) for each individual receiving benefits at the institution during the semester, the total cumulative number of credit hours for which the individual has received an exemption at the institution; and (5) any other information required by the board. SECTION 3. Not later than October 1, 2005, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall develop the system required by Section 61.0516, Education Code, as added by this Act. 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.