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.