BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2347

By: Thibaut

Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, only firefighters are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees to state institutions of higher education for courses that are part of a fire science curriculum.  There is no similar exemption for peace officers who are enrolled in courses related to a criminal justice or law enforcement management curriculum.  In an effort to improve the law enforcement profession, many believe that Texas peace officers should be encouraged to receive a college education.  Providing a tuition exemption would enable more officers to obtain better training and education.

H.B. 2347 exempts peace officers employed by political subdivisions from the payment of tuition and fees to a state institution of higher education providing the officer is enrolled in a course or courses offered as part of a criminal justice or law enforcement management-related curriculum.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2347 amends the Education Code to extend the exemption from the payment of tuition and laboratory fees to an institution of higher education for a firefighter enrolled in fire sciences courses to a peace officer who is employed by a political subdivision of Texas and who is enrolled in a course or courses offered as part of a criminal justice or law enforcement management-related curriculum designed for peace officers.  The bill makes its provisions applicable beginning with tuition and laboratory fees charged for the 2009 fall semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.