By: Branch, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Ogden) H.B. No. 86
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2007;
  April 17, 2007, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on
  Higher Education; May 10, 2007, reported favorably from Committee
  on Education by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 10, 2007,
  sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to tuition rebates provided by general academic teaching
  institutions to students who participate in the Reserve Officers'
  Training Corps.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 54.0065(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A qualified student is eligible for a rebate of a
  portion of the undergraduate tuition the student has paid if the
  student:
               (1)  is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a general
  academic teaching institution within the period prescribed by
  Section 56.462(1)(A) or (B), as applicable, to qualify for
  forgiveness of a Texas B-On-time loan; and
               (2)  has attempted no more than three hours in excess of
  the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete
  the degree program:
                     (A)  [,] including:
                           (i) [(A)]  transfer credits; and
                           (ii) [(B)]  course credit earned
  exclusively by examination, except that, for purposes of this
  subsection, only the number of semester credit hours earned
  exclusively by examination in excess of nine semester credit hours
  is treated as hours attempted; and
                     (B)  excluding course credit that is earned to
  satisfy requirements for a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
  program but that is not required to complete the degree program.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a student who is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a general
  academic teaching institution on or after the effective date of
  this Act.
         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, 2007.
 
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