BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 516
80R5486 JRJ-D By: Van de Putte
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law requires a veteran's federal education benefits to be exhausted before the veteran is eligible to use the benefits granted to the veteran by the state's Hazlewood Act. As a result, veterans may find it difficult to pursue higher education and complete a degree program within a reasonable amount of time because of the cost of the education and the need for employment to support a family.
As proposed, S.B. 516 authorizes veterans to use their Hazlewood and veteran's federal education benefits concurrently.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 54.203(e), Education Code, as follows:
(e) Provides that a person is ineligible for an exemption from fees under this section if the person's right to educational benefits under federal law ends because the person is in default of repayment of a loan made to the person under a federal program to provide or guarantee loans for educational purposes. Deletes text making an exception to the exemption of fees of Subsection (a) under certain circumstances. Deletes text specifying that a person is covered by the exemptions if the person's right to benefits under federal legislation is extinguished at the time of the person's registration.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2007 fall semester.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.