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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to tuition and laboratory fee exemptions at public |
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institutions of higher education for certain peace officers |
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enrolled in criminal justice or law enforcement management-related |
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course work. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.208, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.208. FIREFIGHTERS AND PEACE OFFICERS [FIREMEN] |
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ENROLLED IN CERTAIN [FIRE SCIENCE] COURSES. (a) The governing |
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board of an institution of higher education [boards of the state
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institutions of collegiate rank supported in whole or in part by
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public funds] shall exempt from the payment of tuition and |
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laboratory fees a student [any person] who: |
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(1) is employed as a firefighter [fireman] by a [any] |
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political subdivision of this [the] state and who enrolls in a |
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course or courses offered as part of a fire science curriculum; or |
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(2) is employed as a peace officer by a political |
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subdivision of this state and who enrolls in a course or courses |
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offered as part of a criminal justice or law enforcement |
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management-related curriculum designed for peace officers. |
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(b) An [The] exemption provided under this section does not |
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apply to deposits that [which] may be required in the nature of |
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security for the return or proper care of property loaned for the |
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use of students. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section |
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54.208, Education Code, apply beginning with tuition and laboratory |
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fees charged for the 2009 fall semester. Tuition and laboratory |
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fees charged for an academic period before the 2009 fall semester |
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are covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective |
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date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |