By: Truitt (Senate Sponsor - Shapiro) H.B. No. 2702
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2007;
  May 14, 2007, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on
  Higher Education; May 18, 2007, reported favorably from Committee
  on Education by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0, 1 present not
  voting; May 18, 2007, sent to printer.)
 
 
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, that:
                     (A)  provided monthly payments and medical
  assistance benefits; and
                     (B)  was not limited to providing only for the
  reimbursement of nonrecurring expenses, including reasonable and
  necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney's fees, and other
  expenses directly related to the legal adoption of the child.
         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.
 
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