By: Truitt H.B. No. 2702
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the exemption from tuition and fees at a public
institution of higher education for adopted students.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 54.2111(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
       (a)  A student is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees
authorized by this chapter if the student:
             (1)  was adopted; and
             (2)  was the subject of an adoption assistance
agreement under Subchapter D, Chapter 162, Family Code.
             (3)  A student is not eligible for the tuition
exemption authorized by this section if  the student's most recent
adoption was an international adoption.
       SECTION 2.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
section, the change in law made by this Act applies beginning with
tuition and fees charged at a public institution of higher
education for the 2007 fall semester. Tuition and fees charged for
an academic period before the 2007 fall semester are covered by the
law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
       (b)  The change in law made by this Act does not apply to a
student who was enrolled in a public institution of higher
education and qualified for an exemption from tuition and fees
under Section 54.2111(a), Education Code, for any academic term of
the 2006-2007 academic year. A student described by this
subsection is entitled to an exemption from tuition and fees under
Section 54.2111(a), Education Code, as that section existed
immediately before the effective date of this Act, until the
earlier of:
             (1)  the date the student completes the degree program
in which the student was last enrolled in the 2006-2007 academic
year or another degree program of the same level; or
             (2)  the fourth anniversary of the date the student
initially enrolled in the degree program in which the student was
last enrolled in the 2006-2007 academic year.
       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.