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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to resident tuition rates and fees for certain civilian |
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employees and private contractors at public institutions of higher |
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education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 54.058, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.058. MILITARY PERSONNEL, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, |
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CONTRACTORS, AND DEPENDENTS. |
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SECTION 2. Section 54.058, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (i-1) and amending Subsection (j) to read as |
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follows: |
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(i-1) A civilian employee of any component of the Armed |
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Forces of the United States or an employee of a private contractor |
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with any such component who is assigned to duty in Texas in |
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connection with that employment as part of the United States |
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Department of Defense base realignment and closure process, and the |
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spouse and dependent children of such a person, are entitled to pay |
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tuition and other fees or charges at the rates provided for Texas |
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residents, without regard to the length of time the person has been |
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assigned to duty or resided in this state. |
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(j) A member of the Armed Forces of the United States, [or] |
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the child or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United |
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States, or a person described by Subsection (i-1) who is entitled to |
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pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Texas residents under |
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another provision of this section while enrolled in a degree or |
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certificate program is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rate |
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provided for Texas residents in any subsequent term or semester |
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while the person is continuously enrolled in the same degree or |
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certificate program. For purposes of this subsection, a person is |
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not required to enroll in a summer term to remain continuously |
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enrolled in a degree or certificate program. The person's |
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eligibility to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Texas |
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residents under this subsection does not terminate because the |
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person is no longer a member of the Armed Forces of the United |
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States, [or] the child or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of |
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the United States, or a person described by Subsection (i-1). |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies |
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beginning with tuition and fees for the 2011 fall semester. Tuition |
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and fees for a term or semester before the 2011 fall semester are |
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covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date |
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of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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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, 2011. |