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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of |
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higher education for the spouses of certain military personnel. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.203, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) [of this
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section] also apply [and inure] to the [benefit of the] children of |
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members of the armed forces of the United States who are or were |
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killed in action, who die or died while in service, who are missing |
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in action, or whose death is documented to be directly caused by |
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illness or injury connected with service in the armed forces of the |
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United States, and to the children and spouse [benefit of orphans] |
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of a member [members] of the Texas National Guard or [and] the Texas |
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Air National Guard killed since January 1, 1946, while on active |
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duty either in the service of this [their] state or the United |
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States. To [However, to] qualify for an [this] exemption under this |
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subsection, a person must be a citizen of Texas and must have |
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resided in this [the] state for at least 12 months immediately |
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preceding the date of the person's registration. |
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(b-1) A spouse described by Subsection (b) is eligible for |
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an exemption provided for in Subsection (a) until the earlier of: |
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(1) the date the spouse remarries; or |
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(2) the 10th anniversary of the date of the death of |
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the member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas Air National |
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Guard, as applicable. |
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SECTION 2. Section 54.203, Education Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies beginning with tuition, fees, and other charges |
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for the 2007 fall semester. Tuition, fees, and other charges for an |
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academic period before the 2007 fall semester are covered by the law |
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in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |