AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) exempts the payment of tuition and fees for students who meet certain criteria and are enrolled in one or more courses as part of the fire science curriculum.  How institutions of higher education interpret the definition of fire science courses and the scope of fire science curriculum is varied across institutions.

 

H.B. 1053 requires THECB to form an advisory committee to develop recommendations for the implementation of the tuition exemption for students enrolled in courses offered as part of a fire science curriculum offered under Section 54.208 (Firefighters Enrolled in Fire Science Courses), including a determination of the definition and scope of fire science curriculum.  This committee must be composed of members from institutions of higher education, experts in the fire sciences, and firefighters.

 

H.B. 1053 amends current law relating to the tuition exemption offered by public institutions of higher education to firefighters enrolled in certain courses.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, by adding Section 54.2082, as follows:

 

Sec. 54.2082.  FIRE SCIENCE TUITION EXEMPTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a)  Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish an advisory committee to develop recommendations for the implementation of the tuition exemption for students enrolled in courses offered as part of a fire science curriculum offered under Section 54.208 (Firefighters Enrolled in Fire Science Courses), as amended by Chapters 1285 (H.B. 2013) and 1299 (H.B. 2347), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, including a determination of the definition and scope of fire science curriculum.

 

(b)  Requires that the advisory committee be composed of members from institutions of higher education, experts in the fire sciences, and firefighters.

 

(c)  Authorizes the advisory committee to request the cooperation and assistance of state agencies in preparing recommendations under this section.

 

(d)  Requires the advisory committee, not later than September 1, 2012, to issue a report of its recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house, each standing committee of the legislature with jurisdiction over higher education, and THECB.

 

(e)  Provides that this section expires January 1, 2013.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.