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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to tuition exemptions granted by public institutions of |
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higher education to students who have served in certain school |
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district tutoring programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.917 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.917. STUDENT TUTOR PROGRAM; TUITION EXEMPTION. (a) |
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In this section, "student tutor program" means a tutoring program |
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established under this section. |
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(b) A school district may establish a student tutor program |
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in which a district student in grade nine or above may tutor another |
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student from the same district who is determined, using criteria |
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established under Subsection (h)(4), to be in need of academic |
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assistance. A student tutor program must comply with agency |
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guidelines adopted under Subsection (g)(1). |
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(c) During one or more semesters of high school enrollment, |
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subject to compliance with a standard of behavior adopted under |
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Subsection (h)(6) and other program requirements, any student in |
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grade nine or above, other than a student determined to be in need |
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of academic assistance for any subject area, may volunteer to serve |
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as a tutor in a student tutor program established by the school |
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district in which the student attends school. |
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(d) Before serving as a tutor under this section, a student |
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must successfully complete the training program adopted by the |
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agency under Subsection (g)(2)(A). Based on criteria adopted under |
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Subsection (g)(2)(A), the school district in which the student |
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attends school shall determine whether the student has successfully |
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completed the training program. |
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(e) Tutoring under this section shall be provided in a |
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school district facility. A district employee shall supervise the |
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student tutor program, including each tutoring session. |
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(f) A student tutor program is in addition to any other |
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tutoring, accelerated instruction, mentoring, or similar program |
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required by state or federal law to be provided by a school |
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district. |
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(g) The agency shall adopt: |
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(1) guidelines for a student tutor program; and |
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(2) a training program for: |
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(A) students who volunteer to serve as tutors, |
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including criteria for determining whether a student has |
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successfully completed the training program; and |
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(B) district employees who serve as program |
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supervisors. |
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(h) The board of trustees of each school district that |
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establishes a student tutor program shall adopt policies and |
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procedures for the program, including establishing: |
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(1) one or more district locations at which the |
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program will operate; |
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(2) the hours and days of the week during which the |
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program will operate; |
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(3) the type of supervision by a district employee |
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required; |
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(4) the criteria for determining whether a student is |
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in need of academic assistance; |
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(5) procedures for taking and maintaining records of |
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attendance by a student tutor at: |
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(A) training and other meetings related to the |
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program; |
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(B) tutoring sessions; and |
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(C) any other activities related to the program; |
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and |
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(6) standards of behavior a student tutor must meet |
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during and outside of school. |
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(i) A student who serves as a tutor under this section for at |
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least three hours each school week for a full semester in accordance |
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with Section 54.225 and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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rules adopted under that section is entitled as provided by Section |
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54.225 to an exemption from the payment of tuition at an institution |
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of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003. |
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(j) Not later than May 21 and December 21 of each year, to |
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enable the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to determine |
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eligibility for tuition exemptions under Section 54.225, a school |
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district that operates a student tutor program shall submit to the |
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coordinating board written reports that contain the information |
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specified by rules adopted under Section 54.225(e)(2) and posted on |
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the coordinating board's Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 54.225 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.225. STUDENTS WHO SERVED AS HIGH SCHOOL TUTORS. (a) |
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The governing board of an institution of higher education shall |
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exempt from the payment of tuition for a number of semester credit |
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hours determined under Subsection (b) a resident of this state who |
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is enrolled as an undergraduate student at the institution and who |
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served as a tutor in a high school student tutor program under |
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Section 29.917. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a student is |
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entitled to an exemption under this section from the payment of |
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tuition for three semester credit hours for each semester the |
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student served as a tutor in high school in accordance with Section |
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29.917, this section, and rules adopted under Subsection (e). |
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(c) A student is not eligible for an exemption under this |
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section for more than 24 semester credit hours or after earning a |
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bachelor's degree. |
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(d) A student may not make any claim for money or another |
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benefit in exchange for the right to an exemption under this |
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section. |
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(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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adopt: |
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(1) rules governing the granting or denial of an |
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exemption under this section, including rules relating to: |
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(A) requirements for a student's attendance at |
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activities of a tutor program established under Section 29.917; and |
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(B) determination of eligibility for an |
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exemption; |
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(2) rules specifying the information that is needed |
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from a school district for determining a student's eligibility; and |
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(3) a uniform application form for an exemption under |
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this section. |
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(f) The coordinating board shall post on the board's |
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Internet website a list of eligibility requirements or other |
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eligibility information a school district must submit to the board |
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for purposes of this section. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than October 1, 2007, the Texas |
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Education Agency shall adopt guidelines and a training program for |
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a student tutor program under Section 29.917, Education Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, Section 54.225, Education Code, as added by this Act, |
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takes effect beginning with the 2008 fall semester. |
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(b) Not later than January 1, 2008, the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules and forms for the |
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administration of Section 54.225, Education Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 5. 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. |