By: Watson  S.B. No. 457
         (In the Senate - Filed February 5, 2007; February 21, 2007,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Government
  Organization; March 12, 2007, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; March 12, 2007, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the eligibility for education benefits of surviving
  minor children of certain public employees killed in the line of
  duty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 615.0225, Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A person is eligible to receive education benefits under
  this section if the person is:
               (1)  a surviving spouse; or
               (2)  a surviving minor child as defined by Section
  615.001[, if the child was claimed as a dependent on the income tax
  return filed with the Internal Revenue Service by the listed
  individual in the year preceding the year in which the listed
  individual died].
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act to Subsection
  (a), Section 615.0225, Government Code, regarding the eligibility
  of a surviving child for educational benefits applies in relation
  to a death that occurs on or after September 1, 2001. However, that
  change applies only with respect to education benefits awarded by
  an institution of higher education beginning with the 2007 fall
  semester.
         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.
 
  * * * * *