79R7649 KSD-D

By:  West, Royce                                                  S.B. No. 1181



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to exempting a peace officer from tuition and fees charged 
by a public institution of higher education.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 54.2042 to read as follows:
	Sec. 54.2042.  PEACE OFFICERS.  (a)  The governing board of 
an institution of higher education may exempt a student from the 
payment of tuition and required fees authorized by this chapter for 
a course in which there is a space available to the student if the 
student:
		(1)  is employed by an agency or political subdivision 
of this state as a peace officer for purposes of Article 2.12, Code 
of Criminal Procedure; and
		(2)  is a resident of this state and has resided in this 
state for the 12 months immediately preceding the beginning of the 
semester or session for which an exemption is sought.
	(b)  A person may not receive an exemption under this section 
for more than 12 semesters or sessions while the person is enrolled 
in an undergraduate program or while the person is attending only 
undergraduate courses.
	(c)  A person may not receive an exemption under this section 
if the person is enrolled in a master's degree program or is 
attending postgraduate courses to meet the requirements of a 
master's degree program and the person has previously received a 
master's degree and received an exemption under this section for a 
semester or session while attending a postgraduate course to meet 
the requirements of the master's degree program.
	(d)  A person may not receive an exemption under this section 
if the person is enrolled in a doctoral degree program or is 
attending postgraduate courses to meet the requirements of a 
doctoral degree program and the person has previously received a 
doctoral degree and received an exemption under this section for a 
semester or session while attending a postgraduate course to meet 
the requirements of the doctoral degree program.
	(e)  A person must apply for an exemption in the manner 
provided by the governing board of the institution.  The governing 
board shall require an applicant for an exemption to submit 
satisfactory evidence that the applicant is eligible for the 
exemption.
	(f)  The legislature, in an appropriations act, shall 
account for the rates of tuition and fees for which an exemption is 
authorized by Subsection (a) in a way that does not increase the 
general revenue appropriations to that institution.
	SECTION 2.   This Act applies beginning with tuition and 
required fees charged by a public institution of higher education 
for the 2005 fall semester.
	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.