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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to credit toward future coursework for tuition paid to a |
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public institution of higher education for courses dropped by a |
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student who is pregnant or gives birth to a child. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 54.0066 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.0066. CREDIT FOR TUITION PAID BY STUDENT WHO IS |
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PREGNANT OR GIVES BIRTH. (a) The governing board of an institution |
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of higher education shall permit a student enrolled in the |
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institution who drops a course during a term or semester in which |
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the student is pregnant or gives birth to a child to receive a |
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credit for any tuition paid by the student for that course, other |
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than tuition that is refunded to the student. The student may apply |
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the credit toward the payment of tuition for any courses taken by |
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the student at the institution during the two years following the |
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term or semester during which the student dropped the course. |
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(b) To be eligible for tuition credit under this section, a |
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student must submit a written request to the institution of higher |
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education not later than the 90th day after the last day of the term |
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or semester during which the student dropped the course. |
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(c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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adopt rules for the administration of this section, including a |
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rule establishing the form to be used by a student to request |
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tuition credit under this section. The form must require the |
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signature of the student's treating physician, or of a nurse or |
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physician assistant under the direct supervision of the physician, |
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certifying that the student was pregnant or gave birth to a child |
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during the term or semester during which the student dropped the |
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course. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall adopt the rules required by Section 54.0066, Education Code, |
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as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act. For that purpose, the coordinating board may |
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adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency |
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rules. |
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SECTION 3. Section 54.0066, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2009 fall semester. A student |
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may not receive credit under that section for tuition paid for a |
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course taken before the 2009 fall semester. |
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SECTION 4. 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, 2009. |