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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the imposition of certain conditions and limitations on |
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the receipt of tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of |
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higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 54.2001 and 54.2005 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.2001. CONTINUED RECEIPT OF CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS |
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CONDITIONAL. (a) Notwithstanding any other law but subject to |
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Subsection (c), after initially qualifying under this subchapter |
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for a mandatory exemption from the payment of tuition or other fees |
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for enrollment at an institution of higher education, a person may |
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continue to receive the exemption only if the person makes |
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satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or a certificate as |
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determined by the institution in accordance with the institution's |
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policy regarding eligibility for financial aid. |
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(b) If a person fails to make satisfactory academic progress |
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as described by Subsection (a), the person may not receive the |
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applicable exemption in a subsequent semester or term until the |
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person reestablishes eligibility for the exemption as described by |
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that subsection. |
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(c) If a requirement imposed by this section for the |
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continued receipt of a specific mandatory exemption conflicts with |
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another requirement imposed by statute for that exemption, the |
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stricter requirement prevails. |
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(d) This section does not apply to an exemption provided to |
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a high school student for enrollment in a dual credit course or |
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other course for which the student may earn joint high school and |
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college credit. |
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Sec. 54.2005. EXEMPTIONS NOT APPLICABLE TO PORTIONS OF |
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TUITION CHARGED FOR EXCESS HOURS. (a) If a resident doctoral |
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student or resident undergraduate student is eligible for a |
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mandatory or discretionary exemption from the payment of tuition or |
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other fees under this subchapter and is otherwise required by the |
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institution of higher education the student attends to pay tuition |
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for the same semester or term at a rate in excess of the resident |
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tuition rate as provided by Section 54.012 or 54.014, as |
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applicable, the exemption does not apply to the amount of tuition |
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charged to the student in excess of resident tuition. |
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(b) If a limitation imposed by this section on the |
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application or use of a specific exemption conflicts with another |
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limitation imposed by statute for that exemption, the stricter |
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limitation prevails. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to the |
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payment of tuition or other fees beginning with tuition and fees |
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charged for the 2012 spring semester. |
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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, 2011. |