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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to resident tuition rates at public institutions of higher |
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education for certain veterans and their dependents. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.058, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (k) and (l) to read as follows: |
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(k) The following persons are entitled to pay tuition and |
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fees at an institution of higher education at the rates provided for |
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Texas residents without regard to the length of time the person has |
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resided in this state so long as the person maintains a domicile in |
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this state during each semester or other term in which the person is |
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enrolled in the institution: |
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(1) a person who: |
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(A) is eligible for benefits under the federal |
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Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Pub. L. No. |
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110-252) or any other federal law authorizing educational benefits |
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for veterans; and |
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(B) during enrollment participates in: |
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(i) a community service program approved |
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under rules of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; or |
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(ii) an internship or cooperative education |
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program administered by the institution; and |
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(2) a person who: |
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(A) is the spouse or a dependent child of a person |
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described by Subdivision (1)(A); and |
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(B) during enrollment participates in: |
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(i) a community service program approved |
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under rules of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; or |
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(ii) an internship or cooperative education |
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program administered by the institution. |
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(l) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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adopt rules for the administration of Subsection (k), including |
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rules for the approval of community service programs for purposes |
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of that subsection. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Section 54.058(k), Education Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged |
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for the first term or semester that begins after the effective date |
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of this Act, but not earlier than the 2009 fall semester. Tuition |
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and other fees charged for an academic period before that term or |
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semester are covered by the law in effect immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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adopt rules as provided by Section 54.058(l), Education Code, as |
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added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes |
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effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt the |
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initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules. |
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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. |