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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to vouchers for tuition and required fees at certain |
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institutions of higher education for students who sound "Taps" at a |
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veteran's funeral. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 434.0072 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.0072. "TAPS" TUITION VOUCHER PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section, "institution of higher education" and "private or |
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independent institution of higher education" have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(b) The commission shall establish a program to issue |
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vouchers to be exchanged for an exemption from the payment of |
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tuition and required fees at an institution of higher education as |
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provided by Section 54.215, Education Code, to students in grades 6 |
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through 12 or at postsecondary educational institutions who sound |
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"Taps" on a bugle, trumpet, or cornet during military honors |
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funerals held in this state for deceased veterans. A voucher must |
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be issued in the amount of $25 for each time a student sounds "Taps" |
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as described by this subsection. |
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(c) The commission by rule shall design a form for the |
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vouchers and distribute the form, with an explanation of the form's |
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use, to each funeral director in this state for issuance to a person |
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who is eligible to receive a voucher under this section. The |
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commission may not charge a fee for distribution of the form. |
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(d) The commission shall encourage a private or independent |
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institution of higher education to grant a tuition and fee |
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exemption in exchange for a voucher. |
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(e) A voucher issued under this section may be used by the |
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student at any time and is not transferable. |
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SECTION 2. Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) A school district may excuse a student in grades 6 |
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through 12 for the purpose of sounding "Taps" at a military honors |
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funeral held in this state for a deceased veteran. A student whose |
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absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for |
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that absence and shall be counted as if the student attended school |
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for purposes of calculating the average daily attendance of |
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students in the school district. A student whose absence is excused |
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under this subsection shall be allowed a reasonable time to make up |
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school work missed on those days. If the student satisfactorily |
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completes the school work, the day of absence shall be counted as a |
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day of compulsory attendance. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 54.215 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.215. PARTICIPANTS IN MILITARY FUNERALS. The |
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governing board of each institution of higher education shall |
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provide a $25 exemption from tuition and required fees under this |
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chapter to a student in exchange for a voucher issued to the student |
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under Section 434.0072, Government Code, that is presented by the |
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student to the institution. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |