S.B. No. 32

AN ACT

relating to the consolidation of related higher education programs governing tuition, fee exemptions, and waivers respective to specific target populations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 54.070, 54.059, 54.063, 54.064, 54.065, 54.066, 54.073, 54.060, 54.074, 54.058, 54.069, and 54.013, Education Code, are transferred to Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, redesignated as Sections 54.206, 54.211, 54.212, 54.213, 54.214, 54.222, 54.223, 54.231, 54.232, 54.241, 54.251, and 54.263, Education Code, respectively, and, as indicated, amended; Sections 54.201, 54.207, 54.219, 54.209, 54.215, 54.2155, 54.204, 54.2041, 54.221, 54.222, 54.212, 54.213, 54.214, 54.205, 54.210, 54.2111, and 54.224, Education Code, are redesignated as Sections 54.301, 54.331, 54.342, 54.343, 54.344, 54.345, 54.351, 54.352, 54.355, 54.356, 54.361, 54.362, 54.363, 54.364, 54.365, 54.367, and 54.368, Education Code, respectively, and, as indicated, amended; Section 54.203, Education Code, as amended by Chapters 1340 (S.B. 93) and 1369 (S.B. 847), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted, redesignated as Section 54.341, Education Code, and amended; Section 54.211, Education Code, as amended by Chapters 45 (S.B. 43) and 1372 (S.B. 939), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted, redesignated as Section 54.366, Education Code, and amended; Section 615.0225, Government Code, is transferred to Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, redesignated as Section 54.354, Education Code, and amended; and Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is amended by amending the subchapter heading, amending Sections 54.216, 54.217, and 54.218, and adding Sections 54.221, 54.233, 54.261, and 54.262 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D. WAIVERS, EXEMPTIONS, AND OTHER [FROM] TUITION AND

FEE BENEFITS

Sec. 54.206 [54.070]. FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS. A foreign service officer employed by the United States Department of State and enrolled in an institution of higher education is entitled to pay the tuition and fees at the rates provided for Texas residents if the person is assigned to an office of the department of state that is located in a foreign nation that borders on this state.

Sec. 54.211 [54.059]. FACULTY AND DEPENDENTS. A teacher or professor of an institution of higher education, and the spouse and children of such a teacher or professor, are entitled to register in an institution of higher education by paying the tuition fee and other fees or charges required for Texas residents without regard to the length of time the teacher or professor has resided in Texas. A teacher or professor of an institution of higher education and the teacher's or professor's family are entitled to the benefit of this section if the teacher or professor is employed at least one-half time on a regular monthly salary basis by an institution of higher education.

Sec. 54.212 [54.063]. TEACHING OR RESEARCH ASSISTANT. A teaching assistant or research assistant of any institution of higher education and the spouse and children of such a teaching assistant or research assistant are entitled to register in a state institution of higher education by paying the tuition fees and other fees or charges required for Texas residents under Section 54.051 of this code, without regard to the length of time the assistant has resided in Texas, if the assistant is employed at least one-half time in a teaching or research assistant position which relates to the assistant's degree program under rules and regulations established by the employer institution.

Sec. 54.213 [54.064]. SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT. (a) An institution of higher education may charge a nonresident student who holds a competitive scholarship of at least $1,000 for the academic year or summer term for which the student is enrolled resident tuition and fees without regard to the length of time the student has resided in Texas. The student must compete with other students, including Texas residents, for the scholarship and the scholarship must be awarded by a scholarship committee officially recognized by the administration and be approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under criteria developed by the coordinating board.

(b) The total number of students at an institution paying resident tuition under this section for a particular semester may not exceed five percent of the total number of students registered at the institution for the same semester of the preceding academic year.

(c) A student who would be entitled to pay resident tuition in the 2009-2010 academic year under this section as this section existed on January 1, 2009, because the student is awarded a competitive scholarship for that academic year in the amount prescribed by Subsection (a) before the beginning of the 2009 fall semester is entitled to continue to pay resident tuition under this section as this section existed on January 1, 2009, in each semester or other term in which the student is awarded such a scholarship, as long as the student remains enrolled in the same certificate or degree program. This subsection expires August 1, 2014.

(d) The difference between tuition charged to the student under this section and the tuition the student would be charged if this section did not apply to the student shall not be accounted for in such a way as to reduce the general revenue appropriation to an institution of higher education that charges a nonresident student resident tuition and fees under this section.

Sec. 54.214 [54.065]. BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM; SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT. A student is entitled to pay the fees and charges required of Texas residents without regard to the length of time the student has resided in Texas if the student:

(1) holds a competitive academic scholarship or stipend;

(2) is accepted in a clinical and biomedical research training program designed to lead to both doctor of medicine and doctor of philosophy degrees; and

(3) is either a nonresident or a citizen of a country other than the United States of America.

Sec. 54.216. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COURSE FOR CONCURRENT HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE-LEVEL CREDIT; OPTIONAL WAIVER. The governing board of an institution of higher education may waive all or part of the tuition and fees charged by the institution for a student enrolled in a course for which the student is entitled to simultaneously receive both:

(1) course credit toward the student's high school academic requirements; and

(2) course credit toward a degree offered by the institution.

Sec. 54.217. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN FULLY FUNDED COURSES; OPTIONAL WAIVER. The governing board of an institution of higher education may waive tuition and fees for students attending courses that are fully funded by federal or other sources.

Sec. 54.218. DISTANCE LEARNING OR OFF-CAMPUS COURSES; OPTIONAL WAIVER. The governing board of an institution of higher education may waive a fee it is authorized to charge if the board determines that:

(1) a student is enrolled only in distance learning courses or other off-campus courses of the institution;

(2) the student cannot reasonably be expected to use the activities, services, or facilities on which the fee is based; and

(3) the waiver of the fee will not materially impair the ability of the institution either to service any debt on which the fee is based or to offer or operate the particular activity, service, or facility supported by the fee.

Sec. 54.221. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM; SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT, AND TRANSFER. To the extent provided for in an agreement authorized by Section 65.45, a person employed by the entity with whom the system enters into such an agreement, or the person's spouse or child, may pay the tuition and fees charged to residents of this state when enrolled in an institution of The University of Texas System.

Sec. 54.222 [54.066]. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION. (a) A person who registers at an institution of higher education without having established resident status in this state under Section 54.052 is entitled to pay tuition and required fees at the rate provided for residents of this state if:

(1) the person or, as determined by coordinating board rule, an adult member of the person's family who resides in the person's household and is a primary caretaker of the person establishes by the institution's enrollment date a residence in this state as a result of the person's or caretaker's employment by a business or organization that, not earlier than five years before the enrollment date, became established in this state as part of the program of state economic development and diversification authorized by the law of this state; and

(2) the person files with that institution of higher education a letter of intent to establish residency in this state.

(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, shall establish procedures to determine:

(1) whether a business or organization meets the requirements of this section; and

(2) the date on which the business or organization became established in this state as part of the program of state economic development and diversification.

Sec. 54.223 [54.073]. TUITION RATES FOR OLYMPIC ATHLETES. (a) A person enrolled in The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rates provided for Texas residents if the person:

(1) is in residence and in training as a participating athlete in a Community Olympic Development Program or at a United States Olympic training center located in this state;

(2) is residing permanently or temporarily in this state while in training as a participating athlete:

(A) in a Community Olympic Development Program located in this state; or

(B) at a United States Olympic training center located in this state in a program approved by the governing body for the athlete's Olympic sport; or

(3) is residing permanently or temporarily in this state while in training as a participating athlete at a facility in this state approved by the governing body for the athlete's Olympic sport, in a program approved by that body.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who is entitled to pay resident tuition and fees only as permitted by this section is not considered a Texas resident under this subchapter for purposes of a financial aid program offered by this state.

Sec. 54.231 [54.060]. RESIDENT OF BORDERING STATE OR NATION OR PARTICIPANT IN STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM: TUITION. (a) The nonresident tuition fee prescribed by this chapter does not apply to a nonresident student who is a resident of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, or Oklahoma and who registers in a public upper-level institution of higher education, Lamar State College--Orange, Lamar State College--Port Arthur, a Texas public junior college, or a public technical institute that is situated in a county immediately adjacent to the state in which the nonresident student resides. The nonresident tuition fee prescribed by this chapter does not apply to a nonresident student who is a resident of New Mexico or Oklahoma and who registers in a public technical institute that is situated in a county that is within 100 miles of the state in which the nonresident student resides and who is admitted for the purpose of utilizing available instructional facilities. The nonresident student described in this subsection shall pay an amount equivalent to the amount charged a Texas student registered at a similar school in the state in which the nonresident student resides. For purposes of this subsection, "public upper-level institution of higher education" means an institution of higher education that offers only junior-level and senior-level courses or only junior-level, senior-level, and graduate-level courses.

(b) The foreign student tuition fee prescribed in this chapter does not apply to a foreign student who is a resident of a nation situated adjacent to Texas, demonstrates financial need as provided by Subsection (c), and registers in:

(1) any general academic teaching institution or component of the Texas State Technical College System located in a county immediately adjacent to the nation in which the foreign student resides;

(2) lower division courses at a community or junior college having a partnership agreement pursuant to Subchapter N, Chapter 51, with an upper-level university and both institutions are located in the county immediately adjacent to the nation in which the foreign student resides;

(3) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi, or The University of Texas at San Antonio; or

(4) courses that are part of a graduate degree program in public health and are conducted in a county immediately adjacent to the nation in which the foreign student resides.

(c) A foreign student to whom Subsection (b) applies shall pay tuition equal to that charged Texas residents under Section [Sections] 54.051 [and 54.0512]. The coordinating board shall adopt rules governing the determination of financial need of students to whom Subsection (b) applies and rules governing a pilot project to be established at general academic teaching institutions and at components of the Texas State Technical College System in counties that are not immediately adjacent to the nation in which the foreign student resides.

(d) The coordinating board by rule shall establish a program with the United Mexican States and with Canada for the exchange of students and shall establish programs with other nations for the exchange of students to the extent practicable. The foreign student tuition fee prescribed in this chapter does not apply to a foreign student participating in an exchange program established under this section.

(e) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to determine the number of students who may participate in the programs provided by Subsections (b) and (d) and the students who may transfer from any general academic teaching institution or component of the Texas State Technical College System in a county immediately adjacent to the nation in which the foreign student resides to attend another general academic teaching institution or component of the Texas State Technical College System to complete a degree, certificate, or diploma or attend graduate school.

(f) The payment of resident tuition at Lamar State College--Orange, Lamar State College--Port Arthur, or a public technical institute as authorized by Subsection (a) or at an institution of higher education as authorized by Subsection (g) does not affect the constitutionally dedicated funding to which institutions of higher education are entitled under Section 17, Article VII, [Section 17, of the] Texas Constitution.

(g) The nonresident tuition fee prescribed by this chapter does not apply to a nonresident student who is a resident of a county or parish of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, or Oklahoma that is adjacent to this state and who registers in an institution of higher education, the governing board of which has agreed to admit the student at the resident tuition fee prescribed by this chapter. The state in which the student resides must allow a resident of a county of this state that is adjacent to that state to register in a public institution of higher education in that state at the tuition fee charged residents of that state. The student shall pay tuition equal to that charged residents of this state at the institution.

(h) In this section:

(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(2) "General academic teaching institution" and "public technical institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.

Sec. 54.232 [54.074]. NATO AGREEMENT. A nonimmigrant alien who resides in this state in accordance with the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty Regarding the Status of Their Forces (4 U.S.T. 1792) and the spouse or children of that alien are considered to be residents for tuition and fee purposes under this title.

Sec. 54.233. ACADEMIC COMMON MARKET. The governing board of an institution of higher education shall charge nonresident students participating in the Academic Common Market and enrolled in programs designated under Section 160.07 the same amount charged resident students in such programs.

Sec. 54.241 [54.058]. MILITARY PERSONNEL AND DEPENDENTS. (a) Military personnel are classified as provided by this section.

(b) A person who is an officer, enlisted person, selectee, or draftee of the Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard, or Coast Guard Reserve of the United States, who is assigned to duty in Texas, and the spouse and children of such an officer, enlisted person, selectee, or draftee, are entitled to register in a state institution of higher education by paying the tuition fee and other fees or charges required of Texas residents, without regard to the length of time the officer, enlisted person, selectee, or draftee has been assigned to duty or resided in the state. However, out-of-state Army National Guard or Air National Guard members attending training with Texas Army or Air National Guard units under National Guard Bureau regulations may not be exempted from nonresident tuition by virtue of that training status nor may out-of-state Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard Reserves training with units in Texas under similar regulations be exempted from nonresident tuition by virtue of that training status. It is the intent of the legislature that only those members of the Army or Air National Guard or other reserve forces mentioned above be exempted from the nonresident tuition fee and other fees and charges only when they become members of Texas units of the military organizations mentioned above.

(c) The spouse or child of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been assigned to duty elsewhere immediately following assignment to duty in Texas is entitled to pay the tuition fees and other fees or charges provided for Texas residents as long as the spouse or child resides continuously in Texas.

(d) A spouse or dependent child of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, who is not assigned to duty in Texas but who has previously resided in Texas for a six-month period, is entitled to pay the tuition fees and other fees or charges provided for Texas residents for a term or semester at an institution of higher education if the member:

(1) at least one year preceding the first day of the term or semester executed a document with the applicable military service that is in effect on the first day of the term or semester and that:

(A) indicates that the member's permanent residence address is in Texas; and

(B) designates Texas as the member's place of legal residence for income tax purposes;

(2) has been registered to vote in Texas for the entire year preceding the first day of the term or semester; and

(3) satisfies at least one of the following requirements:

(A) for the entire year preceding the first day of the term or semester has owned real property in Texas and in that time has not been delinquent in the payment of any taxes on the property;

(B) has had an automobile registered in Texas for the entire year preceding the first day of the term or semester; or

(C) at least one year preceding the first day of the term or semester executed a will that has not been revoked or superseded indicating that the member is a resident of this state and deposited the will with the county clerk of the county of the member's residence under Section 71, Texas Probate Code.

(e) A Texas institution of higher education may charge to the United States government the nonresident tuition fee for a veteran enrolled under the provisions of a federal law or regulation authorizing educational or training benefits for veterans.

(f) The spouse or child of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies or is killed is entitled to pay the resident tuition fee if the spouse or child becomes a resident of Texas within 60 days of the date of death.

(g) If a member of the Armed Forces of the United States is stationed outside Texas and the member's spouse or child establishes residence in Texas by residing in Texas and by filing with the Texas institution of higher education at which the spouse or child plans to register a letter of intent to establish residence in Texas, the institution of higher education shall permit the spouse or child to pay the tuition, fees, and other charges provided for Texas residents without regard to length of time that the spouse or child has resided in Texas.

(h) The governing board of Midwestern State University may set the resident and nonresident tuition rates for United States military personnel enrolled in the bachelor of science or master of science degree program in radiological sciences at Midwestern State University at the rates the governing board considers appropriate, notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, and may exempt those military personnel from all or part of required fees and charges while enrolled in one of those programs. The total amount of tuition and required fees charged to a resident member of the armed forces under this subsection may not be less than the total amount of tuition and required fees charged to other resident students in the same program. United States military personnel enrolled in one of those programs by instructional telecommunication are entitled to pay tuition fees and other fees or charges provided by the board for United States military personnel residing in Texas if they began the program while stationed at a military base or other installation in Texas as a member of the United States Armed Forces. In this subsection, "instructional telecommunication" means instruction delivered primarily by telecommunication technology, including open-channel television, cable television, closed-circuit television, low power television, communication and/or direct broadcast satellite, satellite master antenna system, microwave, videotape, videodisc, computer software, computer networks, and telephone lines.

(i) A former member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the former member's spouse or dependent child is entitled to pay the tuition fees and other fees or charges provided for Texas residents for any term or semester at a state institution of higher education that begins before the first anniversary of the member's separation from the Armed Forces if the former member:

(1) has retired or been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces; and

(2) has complied with the requirements of Subsection (d).

(j) A member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the child or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Texas residents under another provision of this section while enrolled in a degree or certificate program is entitled to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Texas residents in any subsequent term or semester while the person is continuously enrolled in the same degree or certificate program. For purposes of this subsection, a person is not required to enroll in a summer term to remain continuously enrolled in a degree or certificate program. The person's eligibility to pay tuition and fees at the rate provided for Texas residents under this subsection does not terminate because the person is no longer a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the child or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(k) A person is entitled to pay tuition and fees at an institution of higher education at the rates provided for Texas residents without regard to the length of time the person has resided in this state if the person files with the institution at which the person intends to register a letter of intent to establish residence in this state and resides in this state while enrolled in the institution and the person:

(1) is eligible for benefits under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (38 U.S.C. Section 3301 et seq.) or any other federal law authorizing educational benefits for veterans;

(2) is the spouse of a person described by Subdivision (1); or

(3) is a child of a person described by Subdivision (1) who is 25 years of age or younger on the first day of the semester or other academic term for which the person is registering, except that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by rule shall prescribe procedures by which a person who suffered from a severe illness or other debilitating condition that affected the person's ability to use the benefit provided by this subsection before reaching that age may be granted additional time to use the benefit corresponding to the time the person was unable to use the benefit because of the illness or condition.

(l) In this section, "child" includes a stepchild.

Sec. 54.251 [54.069]. REGISTERED NURSES IN POSTGRADUATE NURSING DEGREE PROGRAMS; OPTIONAL WAIVER. An institution of higher education may permit a registered nurse authorized to practice professional nursing in Texas to register by paying the tuition fees and other fees or charges required for Texas residents under Section 54.051, without regard to the length of time the registered nurse has resided in Texas, if the registered nurse:

(1) is enrolled in a program designed to lead to a master's degree or other higher degree in nursing; and

(2) intends to teach in a program in Texas designed to prepare students for licensure as registered nurses.

Sec. 54.261. DESIGNATED TUITION; HARDSHIP; OPTIONAL WAIVER. A governing board may waive all or part of the tuition charged to a student under Section 54.0513 if it finds that the payment of such tuition would cause an undue economic hardship on the student.

Sec. 54.262. STUDENT SERVICES FEES; OPTIONAL WAIVER. The governing board of an institution of higher education may waive all or part of any compulsory fee or fees authorized by Section 54.503 in the case of any student for whom the payment of the fee would cause an undue financial hardship, provided the number of the students to whom the waiver is granted for a semester or term does not exceed 10 percent of the institution's total enrollment for that semester or term. The board may limit accordingly the participation of a student in the activities financed by the fee so waived.

Sec. 54.263 [54.013]. STUDENTS 55 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER; OPTIONAL WAIVER. (a) An institution of higher education may charge a student 55 years of age or older tuition and fees at rates that are lower than the rates otherwise provided by this chapter, under the condition that a student under 55 years of age will not be precluded from enrolling in a course for credit toward a degree or certificate. The institution may set additional qualifications that a student must meet to qualify for tuition and fees at rates set under this section and may set different rates for different programs, campuses, or courses. The institution may set rates under this section for resident students, nonresident students, or both, and may set different rates for resident students and nonresident students.

(b) A tuition or fee rate set under this section must apply uniformly to each student that meets the applicable qualifications set by the institution to pay tuition or fees at that rate.

(c) The legislature in an appropriations act shall account for the rates authorized by Subsection (a) in a way that does not increase the general revenue appropriations to that institution.

Sec. 54.301 [54.201]. HIGHEST RANKING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES; OPTIONAL EXEMPTION. The governing board of each institution of higher education may issue scholarships each year to the highest ranking graduate of each accredited high school of this state, exempting the graduates from the payment of tuition during both semesters of the first regular session immediately following their graduation. This exemption may be granted for any one of the first four regular sessions following the individual's graduation from high school when in the opinion of the institution's president the circumstances of an individual case, including military service, merit the action.

Sec. 54.331 [54.207]. STUDENTS FROM OTHER NATIONS OF THE AMERICAN HEMISPHERE. (a) The governing boards of the institutions of higher education may annually exempt from the payment of tuition fees the following students:

(1) 200 native-born students from the other nations of the American hemisphere; and

(2) 35 native-born students from a Latin American country designated by the United States Department of State.

(b) Ten students from each nation, as authorized in Subsection (a)(1) [of this section], shall be exempt as provided in this subsection. In the event any nation fails to have 10 students available and qualified for exemption, additional students from the other nations may be exempted, subject to the approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board[, Texas College and University System,] and allocation by the coordinating board [it]. However, not more than 235 students from all the nations shall be exempt each year. In the event the nation designated in Subsection (a)(2) of this section fails to have 35 students available and qualified for exemption within a reasonable time, additional students from other nations may be exempt, subject to the approval of the coordinating board.

(c) Every applicant desiring the exemption shall furnish satisfactory evidence, certified by the proper authority of the applicant's [his] native country, that the applicant [he] is a bona fide native-born citizen and resident of the country that [which] certifies the [his] application and that the applicant [he] is scholastically qualified for admission.

(d) The coordinating board, after consultation with representatives of the governing boards of the institutions of higher education, shall formulate and prescribe a plan governing the admission and distribution of all applicants desiring to qualify under the provisions of this section.

(e) No student shall be exempted under this section who is not a native-born citizen of the country certifying the student's [his] qualifications and who has not lived in one of the nations of this hemisphere for a period of at least five years. No member of the Communist Party and no student from Cuba shall be eligible for benefits under this section.

Sec. 54.341 [54.203]. VETERANS AND OTHER MILITARY PERSONNEL;[,] DEPENDENTS[, ETC]. (a) The governing board of each institution of higher education shall exempt the following persons from the payment of tuition, dues, fees, and other required charges, including fees for correspondence courses but excluding general deposit fees, student services fees, and any fees or charges for lodging, board, or clothing, provided the person seeking the exemption entered the service at a location in this state, declared this state as the person's home of record in the manner provided by the applicable military or other service, or would have been determined to be a resident of this state for purposes of Subchapter B at the time the person entered the service:

(1) all nurses and honorably discharged members of the armed forces of the United States who served during the Spanish-American War or during World War I;

(2) all nurses, members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, members of the Women's Auxiliary Volunteer Emergency Service, and all honorably discharged members of the armed forces of the United States who served during World War II except those who were discharged from service because they were over the age of 38 or because of a personal request on the part of the person that the person be discharged from service;

(3) all honorably discharged men and women of the armed forces of the United States who served during the national emergency which began on June 27, 1950, and which is referred to as the Korean War; and

(4) all persons who were honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States after serving on active military duty, excluding training, for more than 180 days and who served a portion of their active duty during:

(A) the Cold War which began on the date of the termination of the national emergency cited in Subdivision (3);

(B) the Vietnam era which began on December 21, 1961, and ended on May 7, 1975;

(C) the Grenada and Lebanon era which began on August 24, 1982, and ended on July 31, 1984;

(D) the Panama era which began on December 20, 1989, and ended on January 21, 1990;

(E) the Persian Gulf War which began on August 2, 1990, and ends on the date thereafter prescribed by Presidential proclamation or September 1, 1997, whichever occurs first;

(F) the national emergency by reason of certain terrorist attacks that began on September 11, 2001; or

(G) any future national emergency declared in accordance with federal law.

(a-1) A person who before the 2009-2010 academic year received an exemption provided by Subsection (a) continues to be eligible for the exemption provided by that subsection as that subsection existed on January 1, 2009, subject to the other provisions of this section other than the requirement of Subsection (a) that the person must have entered the service at a location in this state, declared this state as the person's home of record, or would have been determined to be a resident of this state for purposes of Subchapter B at the time the person entered the service.

(a-2) The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also apply to the spouse of:

(1) a member of the armed forces of the United States:

(A) who was killed in action;

(B) who died while in service;

(C) who is missing in action;

(D) whose death is documented to be directly caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed forces of the United States; or

(E) who became totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related injury; or

(2) a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas Air National Guard who:

(A) was killed since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the service of this state or the United States; or

(B) is totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive disability benefits from the department, as a result of a service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the service of this state or the United States.

(b) The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also apply to:

(1) the children of members of the armed forces of the United States:

(A) who are or were killed in action;

(B) who die or died while in service;

(C) who are missing in action;

(D) whose death is documented to be directly caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed forces of the United States; or

(E) who became totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of a service-related injury; and

(2) the children of members of the Texas National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard who:

(A) were killed since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the service of their state or the United States; or

(B) are totally disabled for purposes of employability according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans Affairs, regardless of whether the members are eligible to receive disability benefits from the department, as a result of a service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the service of this state or the United States.

(b-1) To qualify for an exemption under Subsection (a-2) or (b), the spouse or child must be classified as a resident under Subchapter B on the date of the spouse's or child's registration.

(b-2) The governing board of an institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of resident tuition at the institution a dependent child, including a stepchild, of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is a resident of this state or is entitled to pay resident tuition under this subchapter, for any semester or other academic term during which the member of the armed forces is deployed on active duty for the purpose of engaging in a combative military operation outside the United States. In its appropriations to institutions of higher education, the legislature shall provide sufficient funds to cover the full costs of the exemptions provided by this subsection.

(c) A person may not receive exemptions provided for by this section for more than a cumulative total of 150 credit hours.

(d) The governing board of each institution of higher education granting an exemption under this section shall require every applicant claiming the exemption to submit satisfactory evidence that the applicant qualifies for the exemption.

(e) The exemption from tuition, fees, and other charges provided for by this section does not apply to a person who at the time of registration is entitled to receive educational benefits under federal legislation that may be used only for the payment of tuition and fees if the value of those benefits received in a semester or other term is equal to or exceeds the value of the exemption for the same semester or other term. If the value of federal benefits that may be used only for the payment of tuition and fees and are received in a semester or other term does not equal or exceed the value of the exemption for the same semester or other term, the person is entitled to receive both those federal benefits and the exemption in the same semester or other term. The combined amount of the federal benefit that may be used only for the payment of tuition and fees plus the amount of the exemption received in a semester or other term may not exceed the cost of tuition and fees for that semester or other term.

(e-1) A person may not receive an exemption under this section if the person is in default on a loan made or guaranteed for educational purposes by the State of Texas.

(f) The governing board of each institution of higher education may enter into contracts with the United States government, or any of its agencies, to furnish instruction to ex-servicemen and ex-service women at a tuition rate which covers the estimated cost of the instruction or, in the alternative, at a tuition rate of $100 a semester, as may be determined by the governing board. If the rates specified are prohibited by federal law for any particular class of ex-servicemen or ex-service women, the tuition rate shall be set by the governing board, but shall not be less than the established rate for civilian students. If federal law provides as to any class of veterans that the tuition payments are to be deducted from subsequent benefits to which the veteran may be entitled, the institution shall refund to any veteran who is a resident of Texas within the meaning of this section the amount by which any adjusted compensation payment is actually reduced because of tuition payments made to the institution by the federal government for the veteran.

(g) The governing board of a public junior college [district], public technical institute, or public state college, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003, may establish a fee for extraordinary costs associated with a specific course or program and may provide that the exemptions provided by this section do not apply to this fee.

(h) The governing board of each institution of higher education shall electronically report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the information required by Section 61.0516 relating to each individual receiving an exemption from fees and charges under Subsection (a), (a-2), or (b). The institution shall report the information not later than December 31 of each year for the fall semester, May 31 of each year for the spring semester, and September 30 of each year for the summer session.

(i) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules to provide for the efficient and uniform application of this section.

(j) In determining whether to admit a person to any certificate program or any baccalaureate, graduate, postgraduate, or professional degree program, an institution of higher education may not consider the fact that the person is eligible for an exemption under this section.

(k) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by rule shall prescribe procedures to allow a person who becomes eligible for an exemption provided by Subsection (a) to waive the person's right to any unused portion of the maximum number of cumulative credit hours for which the person could receive the exemption and assign the exemption for the unused portion of those credit hours to a child of the person. The procedures shall provide:

(1) the manner in which a person may waive the exemption and designate a child to receive the exemption;

(2) a procedure permitting the person to designate a different child to receive the exemption if the child previously designated to receive the exemption did not use the exemption under this section for all of the assigned portion of credit hours; and

(3) a method of documentation to enable institutions of higher education to determine the eligibility of the designated child to receive the exemption.

(l) To be eligible to receive an exemption under Subsection (k), the child must:

(1) be a student who is classified as a resident under Subchapter B when the child enrolls in an institution of higher education;

(2) make satisfactory academic progress in a degree, certificate, or continuing education program as determined by the institution at which the child is enrolled in accordance with the policy of the institution's financial aid department, except that the institution may not require the child to enroll in a minimum course load; and

(3) be 25 years of age or younger on the first day of the semester or other academic term for which the exemption is claimed, except that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by rule shall prescribe procedures by which a child who suffered from a severe illness or other debilitating condition that affected the child's ability to use the exemption before reaching that age may be granted additional time to use the exemption corresponding to the time the child was unable to use the exemption because of the illness or condition.

(m) For purposes of this section, a person is the child of another person if:

(1) the person is the stepchild or the biological or adopted child of the other person; or

(2) the other person claimed the person as a dependent on a federal income tax return filed for the preceding year or will claim the person as a dependent on a federal income tax return for the current year.

Sec. 54.342 [54.219]. PRISONERS OF WAR. (a) In this section, "tuition and required fees" includes tuition, service fees, lab fees, building use fees, and all other required fees except room, board, or clothing fees or deposits in the nature of security for the return or proper care of property.

(b) For each semester or summer session and for a total number of semester credit hours not to exceed 120, the governing body of each institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and required fees any person who:

(1) is a resident of Texas and was a resident of Texas at the time of the person's original entry into the United States armed forces;

(2) was first classified as a prisoner of war by the United States Department of Defense on or after January 1, 1999; and

(3) is enrolled for at least 12 semester credit hours.

(c) For each semester or session in which a person receives an exemption from tuition and required fees under Subsection (b), the governing body of the institution the person attends shall exempt the person from the payment of fees and charges for lodging and board if the person resides on the campus of the institution. If the person does not reside on the campus of the institution, the institution shall provide to the person a reasonable stipend to cover the costs of the person's lodging and board.

(d) For each semester or session in which a person receives an exemption from tuition and required fees under Subsection (b), the governing body of the institution the person attends shall award to the person a scholarship to cover the costs of books and similar educational materials required for course work at the institution.

(e) An institution may use any available revenue, including legislative appropriations, and shall solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this section. The institution shall use gifts, grants, and donations received for the purposes of this section before using any other revenue.

Sec. 54.343 [54.209]. CHILDREN OF PRISONERS OF WAR OR PERSONS MISSING IN ACTION. (a) In this section:

(1) "Dependent child" means a person under 21 years of age, or a person under 25 years of age who receives the majority of his support from his parent or parents.

(2) "Tuition and fees" includes tuition, service fees, lab fees, building use fees, and all other fees except room, board, or clothing fees, or deposits in the nature of security for the return or proper care of property.

(b) The governing body of each institution of higher education, on presentation of satisfactory evidence, shall exempt from the payment of tuition and fees the dependent child of any person who is a domiciliary of Texas on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, and who at the time of the registration is classified by the Department of Defense as a prisoner of war or as missing in action.

Sec. 54.344 [54.215]. PARTICIPANTS IN MILITARY FUNERALS. The governing board of each institution of higher education shall provide a $25 exemption from tuition and required fees under this chapter to a student in exchange for a voucher issued to the student under Section 434.0072, Government Code, that is presented by the student to the institution.

Sec. 54.345 [54.2155]. ASSISTANCE FOR TUITION AND FEES FOR MEMBERS OF STATE MILITARY FORCES. (a) For each semester, the adjutant general of the state military forces shall certify to institutions of higher education as described by Section 431.090, Government Code, information identifying the persons to whom the adjutant general has awarded assistance for tuition and mandatory fees under that section.

(b) An institution of higher education shall exempt a person certified by the adjutant general as described by Subsection (a) from the payment of tuition for the semester credit hours for which the person enrolls, not to exceed 12 semester credit hours. If the person is not charged tuition at the rate provided for other Texas residents, the amount of the exemption may not exceed the amount of tuition the person would be charged as a Texas resident for the number of semester credit hours for which the person enrolls, not to exceed 12 semester credit hours.

(c) An institution of higher education shall exempt a person who receives an exemption from tuition under Subsection (b) from the payment of all mandatory fees for any semester in which the person receives the tuition exemption.

Sec. 54.351 [54.204]. CHILDREN OF DISABLED FIREFIGHTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer" means:

(A) a full-paid or volunteer firefighter;

(B) a full-paid or volunteer municipal, county, or state peace officer, including a game warden; or

(C) a custodial officer of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

(2) "Disability" means inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to be of long-continued and indefinite duration. A person is not considered to be under a disability unless the person provides any proof of the existence of the disability as may be required.

(b) The governing board of each institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of all dues, fees, and charges any person whose parent is an eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer who has suffered an injury, resulting in death or disability, sustained in the line of duty according to the regulations and criteria then in effect governing the department or agency in which the eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer volunteered or was employed. The exemption does not apply to general deposits or to fees or charges for lodging, board, or clothing.

(c) A person is not entitled to the exemption if the person:

(1) does not apply initially for the exemption before the date the person:

(A) becomes 21 years of age, if the person is not covered by Paragraph (B); or

(B) becomes 22 years of age, if the person is eligible to participate in a school district's special education program under Section 29.003;

(2) does not meet all entrance requirements of the institution; or

(3) does not maintain a scholastic average sufficient to remain in good standing.

(d) Subject to Subsection (e), a person may receive an exemption only for the first 120 undergraduate semester credit hours for which the person registers.

(e) A person is not entitled to an exemption for any term or semester the person begins after the date the person becomes 26 years of age.

(f) A person entitled to an exemption under the provisions of this section shall, when transferring from a public junior college to a public senior college or university, meet the standard entrance requirements required by the senior college or university of an applicant for admission not covered by the provisions of this section.

(g) An eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer whose injury results in a disability shall submit to a physical examination by a physician designated by the United States Social Security Administration to conduct physical examinations and to make disability reports to the Social Security Administration. If the physician decides the injury received has resulted in a disability, the physician shall certify that fact to the head of the department in which the eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer volunteers or is employed.

(h) The head of the department in which the eligible firefighter or law enforcement officer volunteered or was employed at the time the firefighter or law enforcement officer sustained the injury shall file a certificate with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on a form prepared by the board for the purpose. The head of the department shall attach the certificate of the examining physician if an examination is required by Subsection (g) [of this section]. A copy of the certificate on file with the coordinating board is sufficient evidence for the institution to grant the exemption.

Sec. 54.352 [54.2041]. DISABLED PEACE OFFICERS; OPTIONAL EXEMPTION. (a) The governing board of an institution of higher education may exempt a student from the payment of tuition and required fees authorized by this chapter for a course for which space is available if the student:

(1) is a resident of this state and has resided in this state for the 12 months immediately preceding the beginning of the semester or session for which an exemption is sought;

(2) is permanently disabled as a result of an injury suffered during the performance of a duty as a peace officer of this state or a political subdivision of this state; and

(3) is unable to continue employment as a peace officer because of the disability.

(b) A person may not receive an exemption under this section for more than 12 semesters or sessions while the person is enrolled in an undergraduate program or while the person is attending only undergraduate courses.

(c) A person may not receive an exemption under this section if the person is enrolled in a master's degree program or is attending postgraduate courses to meet the requirements of a master's degree program and the person has previously received a master's degree and received an exemption under this section for a semester or session while attending a postgraduate course to meet the requirements of the master's degree program.

(d) A person may not receive an exemption under this section if the person is enrolled in a doctoral degree program or is attending postgraduate courses to meet the requirements of a doctoral degree program and the person has previously received a doctoral degree and received an exemption under this section for a semester or session while attending a postgraduate course to meet the requirements of the doctoral degree program.

(e) A person must apply for an exemption in the manner provided by the governing board of the institution. The governing board shall require an applicant for an exemption to submit satisfactory evidence that the applicant is eligible for the exemption.

(f) The legislature, in an appropriations act, shall account for the rates of tuition and fees authorized by Subsection (a) in a way that does not increase the general revenue appropriations to that institution.

(g) In this section, "injury suffered during the performance of a duty as a peace officer" means an injury occurring as a result of the peace officer's performance of any of the following law enforcement duties:

(1) traffic enforcement or traffic control duties, including enforcement of traffic laws, investigation of vehicle accidents, or directing traffic;

(2) pursuit, arrest, or search of a person reasonably believed to have violated a law;

(3) investigation, including undercover investigation, of a criminal act;

(4) patrol duties, including automobile, bicycle, foot, air, or horse patrol;

(5) duties related to the transfer of prisoners; or

(6) training duties, including participation in any training required by the officer's employer or supervisor or by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

(h) For the purpose of this section, a peace officer is considered permanently disabled only if the chief administrative officer of the law enforcement agency or other entity that employed the officer at the time of the injury determines the officer is permanently disabled and satisfies any requirement of an institution under Subsection (e).

Sec. 54.354 [615.0225]. EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN SURVIVORS. (a) A person is eligible to receive education benefits under this section if the person is:

(1) a surviving spouse; or

(2) a surviving minor child as defined by Section 615.001, Government Code.

(b) An eligible person who enrolls as a full-time student at an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003[, Education Code,] is exempt from tuition and fees at that institution of higher education until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours of course credit, whichever occurs first.

(c) If the student elects to reside in housing provided by the institution of higher education and qualifies to reside in that housing, the institution shall pay from the general revenue appropriated to the institution the cost of the student's contract for food and housing until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours of course credit, whichever occurs first. If there is no space available in the institution's housing, the institution shall, from the general revenue appropriated to the institution, pay to the student each month the equivalent amount that the institution would have expended had the student lived in the institution's housing. The institution is not required to pay the student the monthly payment if the student would not qualify to live in the institution's housing.

(d) The institution of higher education shall, from the general revenue appropriated to the institution, pay to the student the cost of the student's textbooks until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours of course credit, whichever occurs first.

(e) A payment under this section is in addition to any payment made under Section 615.022, Government Code.

Sec. 54.355 [54.221]. CHILDREN OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING PROGRAM FACULTY. (a) In this section:

(1) "Child" means a child 25 years of age or younger and includes an adopted child.

(2) "Graduate professional nursing program" means an educational program of a public or private institution of higher education that prepares students for a master's or doctoral degree in nursing.

(3) "Undergraduate professional nursing program" means a public or private educational program for preparing students for initial licensure as registered nurses.

(b) The governing board of an institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition a resident of this state enrolled as an undergraduate student at the institution who is a child of a person who, at the beginning of the semester or other academic term for which an exemption is sought, holds a master's or doctoral degree in nursing, if not employed or under contract as a teaching assistant under Subdivision (1) or (2), or a baccalaureate degree in nursing, if employed or under contract as a teaching assistant under Subdivision (1) or (2), and:

(1) is employed by an undergraduate or graduate professional nursing program in this state as a full-time member of its faculty or staff with duties that include teaching, serving as a teaching assistant, performing research, serving as an administrator, or performing other professional services; or

(2) has contracted with an undergraduate or graduate professional nursing program in this state to serve as a full-time member of its faculty or staff to perform duties described by Subdivision (1) during all or part of the semester or other academic term for which an exemption is sought or, if the child is enrolled for a summer session, during all or part of that session or for the next academic year.

(c) A child who would qualify for an exemption under this section but for the fact that the child's parent is not employed full-time is eligible for an exemption on a pro rata basis equal to the percentage of full-time employment the parent is employed, except that a parent employed for less than 25 percent of full-time employment is considered to be employed for 25 percent of full-time employment.

(d) A person is not eligible for an exemption under this section if the person:

(1) has previously received an exemption under this section for 10 semesters or summer sessions at any institution or institutions of higher education; or

(2) has received a baccalaureate degree.

(e) For purposes of Subsection (d), a summer session that is less than nine weeks in duration is considered one-half of a summer session.

(f) The tuition exemption provided by this section applies only to enrollment of a child at the institution at which the child's parent is employed or is under contract.

(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt:

(1) rules governing the granting or denial of an exemption under this section, including rules relating to the determination of eligibility for an exemption; and

(2) a uniform application form for an exemption under this section.

Sec. 54.356 [54.222]. PRECEPTORS FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) In this section, "child" and "undergraduate professional nursing program" have the meanings assigned by Section 54.355 [54.221].

(b) The governing board of an institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of $500 of the total amount of tuition a resident of this state enrolled as a student at the institution who:

(1) is a registered nurse; and

(2) serves under a written preceptor agreement with an undergraduate professional nursing program as a clinical preceptor for students enrolled in the program.

(b-1) A person is entitled to an exemption under Subsection (b) for one semester or other academic term for each semester or other academic term during which the person serves as a clinical preceptor as described by Subsection (b). The person may claim the exemption in:

(1) the semester or other academic term in which the person serves as a clinical preceptor; or

(2) a different semester or other academic term that begins before the first anniversary of the last day of a semester or other academic term described by Subdivision (1), if the person does not claim the exemption in the semester or other term during which the person serves as a clinical preceptor.

(c) The governing board of an institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of $500 of the total amount of tuition a resident of this state enrolled as an undergraduate student at the institution who is a child of a person who meets the requirements of Subsection (b). The child is entitled to an exemption for one semester or other academic term for each semester or other academic term during which the parent serves as a clinical preceptor. The child may claim the exemption in any semester or other academic term during which the parent could have claimed an exemption under Subsection (b). The child's eligibility for an exemption is not affected by whether the parent also received an exemption under Subsection (b) for the same qualifying service as a clinical preceptor.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsections (b) and (c), if a person eligible for an exemption under this section owes less than $500 in tuition, the governing board of the institution of higher education in which the person is enrolled shall exempt the person from the payment of only the amount of tuition the person owes.

(e) A person is not eligible for an exemption under Subsection (c) if the person:

(1) has previously received an exemption under this section for 10 semesters or summer sessions at any institution or institutions of higher education; or

(2) has received a baccalaureate degree.

(f) For purposes of Subsection (e), a summer session that is less than nine weeks in duration is considered one-half of a summer session.

(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt:

(1) rules governing the granting or denial of an exemption under this section, including rules relating to the determination of eligibility for an exemption; and

(2) a uniform application form for an exemption under this section.

Sec. 54.361 [54.212]. ONE-YEAR EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN TANF STUDENTS. A student is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees authorized by this chapter for the first academic year in which the student enrolls at an institution of higher education if the student:

(1) graduated from a public high school in this state;

(2) successfully completed the attendance requirements under Section 25.085 [21.032];

(3) during the student's last year of public high school in this state, was a dependent child receiving financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code, for not less than six months;

(4) is younger than 22 years of age on the date of enrollment;

(5) enrolls at the institution as an undergraduate student not later than the second anniversary of the date of graduation from a public high school in this state;

(6) has met the entrance examination requirements of the institution before the date of enrollment; and

(7) is classified as a resident under Subchapter B.

Sec. 54.362 [54.213]. FUNDING OF EXEMPTIONS. (a) An institution of higher education may fund tuition exemptions under Section 54.361 [54.212] or 54.363 [54.214] from local funds or from funds appropriated to the institution. An institution of higher education is not required to provide tuition exemptions beyond those funded through appropriations specifically designated for this purpose.

(b) Savings to the foundation school fund that occur as a result of the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program created in Subchapter K, Chapter 56, and that are not required for the funding of state credits for tuition and mandatory fees under Section 56.204 or school district credits under Section 56.2075 shall be used first to provide tuition exemptions under Section 54.361 [54.212]. Any of those savings remaining after providing tuition exemptions under Section 54.361 [54.212] shall be used to provide tuition exemptions under Section 54.363 [54.214]. The Texas Education Agency shall also accept and make available to provide tuition exemptions under Section 54.363 [54.214] gifts, grants, and donations made to the agency for that purpose. Payment of funds under this subsection shall be made in the manner provided by Section 56.207 for state credits under Subchapter K, Chapter 56.

Sec. 54.363 [54.214]. EDUCATIONAL AIDES. (a) In this section, "coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(b) The governing board of an institution of higher education shall exempt an eligible educational aide from the payment of tuition and fees, other than class or laboratory fees.

(c) To be eligible for an exemption under this section, a person must:

(1) be a resident of this state;

(2) be a school employee serving in any capacity;

(3) for the initial term or semester for which the person receives an exemption under this section, have worked as an educational aide for at least one school year during the five years preceding that term or semester;

(4) establish financial need as determined by coordinating board rule;

(5) be enrolled in courses required for teacher certification at the institution of higher education granting the exemption;

(6) maintain an acceptable grade point average as determined by coordinating board rule; and

(7) comply with any other requirements adopted by the coordinating board under this section.

(d) The institution of higher education at which a person seeking an exemption under this section is enrolled must certify the person's eligibility to receive the exemption. As soon as practicable after receiving an application for certification, the institution shall make the determination of eligibility and give notice of its determination to the applicant and to the school district employing the applicant as an educational aide.

(e) The coordinating board shall adopt rules consistent with this section as necessary to implement this section. The coordinating board shall distribute a copy of the rules adopted under this section to each school district and institution of higher education in this state.

(f) The board of trustees of a school district shall establish a plan to encourage the hiring of educational aides who show a willingness to become certified teachers.

(g) The governing board of an institution of higher education that offers courses required for teacher certification shall establish a plan to make those courses more accessible to those who seek teacher certification. The board shall consider as part of its plan to make those courses more accessible for teacher certification, evening classes, Internet classes, or other means approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Sec. 54.364 [54.205]. BLIND, DEAF STUDENTS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Resident" has the same meaning as is assigned it in Subchapter B of this chapter.

(2) "Blind person" means a person who is a "blind disabled individual" as defined in Section 91.051(5), Human Resources Code.

(3) "Deaf person" means a person whose sense of hearing is nonfunctional, after all necessary medical treatment, surgery, and use of hearing aids, for understanding normal conversation.

(4) "Tuition fees" includes all dues, fees, and enrollment charges whatsoever for which exemptions may be lawfully made, including fees for correspondence courses, general deposit fees, and student services fees, but does not include fees or charges for lodging, board, or clothing.

(5) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, except that the term includes the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf.

(b) A deaf or blind person who is a resident is entitled to exemption from the payment of tuition fees at any institution of higher education utilizing public funds if the person [he] presents:

(1) certification that the person [he] is a "blind person" or a "deaf person" as defined in Subsection (a) [of this section] by the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services [Texas Rehabilitation Commission, Texas Commission for the Blind, or Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, as appropriate,] in a written statement, which certification is considered conclusive;

(2) a written statement of purpose from the person that indicates the certificate or degree program to be pursued or the professional enhancement from the course of study for that certificate or degree program;

(3) a high school diploma or its equivalent;

(4) a letter of recommendation from the principal of the high school attended by the deaf or blind individual, a public official, or some other responsible person who knows the deaf or blind individual and is willing to serve as a reference; and

(5) proof that the person [he] meets all other entrance requirements of the institution.

(c) The governing board of an institution may establish special entrance requirements to fit the circumstances of deaf and blind persons. The Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services [Texas Rehabilitation Commission, the Texas Commission for the Blind, the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,] and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may develop any rules and procedures that these agencies determine necessary for the efficient implementation of this section.

(d) For the purposes of this section, a person is required to present certification that the person is a "blind person" or a "deaf person" as required under Subsection (b)(1) [of this section] at the time the person initially enrolls at an institution of higher education in the course of study designated by the person under Subsection (b)(2) [of this section]. The certification is valid for each semester that the person enrolls at that institution in the designated course of study.

(e) A person who qualifies for an exemption under this section is entitled to the exemption for each course in which the person enrolls at an institution of higher education.

Sec. 54.365 [54.210]. SENIOR CITIZENS; OPTIONAL BENEFIT. (a) In this section, "senior citizen" means a person 65 years of age or older.

(b) The governing board of a state-supported institution of higher education may allow a senior citizen to audit any course offered by the institution without the payment of a fee if space is available.

(c) The governing board of an institution of higher education may allow a senior citizen to enroll for credit in up to six hours of courses offered by the institution each semester or summer term without payment of tuition if space is available.

Sec. 54.366 [54.211]. EXEMPTIONS FOR STUDENTS UNDER CONSERVATORSHIP OF DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES. (a) A student is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees authorized in this chapter, including tuition and fees charged by an institution of higher education for a dual credit course or other course for which a high school student may earn joint high school and college credit, if the student:

(1) was under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services:

(A) on the day preceding the student's 18th birthday;

(B) on or after the day of the student's 14th birthday, if the student was also eligible for adoption on or after that day;

(C) on the day the student graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma;

(D) on the day preceding:

(i) the date the student is adopted, if that date is on or after September 1, 2009; or

(ii) the date permanent managing conservatorship of the student is awarded to a person other than the student's parent, if that date is on or after September 1, 2009; or

(E) [(D)] during an academic term in which the student was enrolled in a dual credit course or other course for which a high school student may earn joint high school and college credit; and

(2) enrolls in an institution of higher education as an undergraduate student or in a dual credit course or other course for which a high school student may earn joint high school and college credit not later than the student's 25th birthday.

(b) The Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall develop outreach programs to ensure that students in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services and in grades 9-12 are aware of the availability of the exemption from the payment of tuition and fees provided by this section.

Sec. 54.367 [54.2111]. EXEMPTIONS FOR ADOPTED STUDENTS FORMERLY IN FOSTER OR OTHER RESIDENTIAL CARE. (a) A student is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees authorized by this chapter if the student:

(1) was adopted; and

(2) was the subject of an adoption assistance agreement under Subchapter D, Chapter 162, Family Code, that:

(A) provided monthly payments and medical assistance benefits; and

(B) was not limited to providing only for the reimbursement of nonrecurring expenses, including reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney's fees, and other expenses directly related to the legal adoption of the child.

(b) The Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall develop outreach programs to ensure that adopted students in grades 9-12 formerly in foster or other residential care are aware of the availability of the exemption from the payment of tuition and fees provided by this section.

Sec. 54.368 [54.224]. INTERINSTITUTIONAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS; OPTIONAL EXEMPTION. (a) In this section:

(1) "Interinstitutional academic program" means a program under which a student may, in accordance with a written agreement between an institution of higher education and one or more other institutions of higher education or private or independent institutions of higher education, take courses at each institution that is a party to the agreement as necessary to fulfill the program's degree or certificate requirements.

(2) "Private or independent institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the governing board of an institution of higher education may exempt from the payment of tuition and required fees authorized by this chapter a student who is taking a course, including an interdisciplinary course, at the institution under an interinstitutional academic program agreement but who is enrolled primarily at another institution of higher education or at a private or independent institution of higher education that is a party to the agreement and to which the student is responsible for the payment of tuition and fees.

SECTION 2. Subsection (c), Section 21.050, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) A person who receives a bachelor's degree required for a teaching certificate on the basis of higher education coursework completed while receiving an exemption from tuition and fees under Section 54.363 [54.214] may not be required to participate in any field experience or internship consisting of student teaching to receive a teaching certificate.

SECTION 3. Section 54.011, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 54.011. TUITION LIMIT IN CASES OF CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT. When a student registers at more than one public institution of higher education at the same time, the student's [his] tuition charges shall be determined in the following manner:

(1) The student shall pay the full tuition charge to the first institution at which the student [he] is registered; and in any event the student [he] shall pay an amount at least equal to the minimum tuition specified in this code.

(2) If the minimum tuition specified in this code for the first institution at which the student is registered is equal to or greater than the minimum tuition specified in this code for the second institution at which the student is registered concurrently, the student shall not be required to pay the specified minimum tuition charge to the second institution in addition to the tuition charge paid to the first institution, but shall pay only the hourly rates, as provided in this code, to the second institution.

(3) If the minimum tuition specified in this code for the first institution at which the student is registered is less than the specified minimum tuition charge at the second institution (that is, if the second institution has a higher minimum tuition charge specified in this code), then the student shall first register at the institution having the lower minimum tuition and shall pay to the second institution only the amount equal to the difference between the student's [his] total tuition charge at the second institution and the student's [his] total tuition charge at the first institution, but in no case shall the student pay to the second institution less than the hourly rates as provided in this code.

(4) If a student is considered to be a Texas resident and therefore qualified to pay Texas resident tuition rates by one institution at which the student [he] is registered, the [that] student shall be considered a Texas resident at each of the institutions at which the student [he] is concurrently registered for the purposes of determining the proper tuition charges. Nothing in this subdivision shall be so construed as to allow a nonresident to pay resident tuition except at institutions covered by Section 54.231 [54.060 of this code].

SECTION 4. Subsection (c), Section 54.545, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) Subchapters B and D do not apply to a fee charged under this section, except to a fee for a correspondence course taken by a student who would qualify for an exemption from tuition under Section 54.341 [54.203] if the correspondence course applies towards the student's degree plan. The governing board of an institution of higher education may grant an exemption provided by Section 54.341 [54.203] for continuing education courses.

SECTION 5. Section 56.455, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 56.455. INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR LOAN. To be eligible initially for a Texas B-On-time loan, a person must:

(1) be a resident of this state under Section 54.052 or be entitled, as a child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, to pay tuition at the rate provided for residents of this state under Section 54.241 [54.058];

(2) meet one of the following academic requirements:

(A) be a graduate of a public or private high school in this state who graduated not earlier than the 2002-2003 school year under the recommended or advanced high school program established under Section 28.025(a) or its equivalent;

(B) be a graduate of a high school operated by the United States Department of Defense who:

(i) graduated from that school not earlier than the 2002-2003 school year; and

(ii) at the time of graduation from that school was a dependent child of a member of the armed forces of the United States; or

(C) have received an associate degree from an eligible institution not earlier than May 1, 2005;

(3) be enrolled for a full course load for an undergraduate student, as determined by the coordinating board, in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at an eligible institution;

(4) be eligible for federal financial aid, except that a person is not required to meet any financial need requirement applicable to a particular federal financial aid program; and

(5) comply with any additional nonacademic requirement adopted by the coordinating board under this subchapter.

SECTION 6. Section 61.0516, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.0516. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO MONITOR TUITION EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS. The board shall develop a system to electronically monitor the use of tuition exemptions under Section 54.341 [54.203]. The system must allow the board to electronically receive, for each semester, the following information from institutions of higher education:

(1) the name of the institution;

(2) the name, identification number, and date of birth of each individual attending the institution and receiving benefits for the semester under Section 54.341 [54.203];

(3) for each individual receiving benefits, the number of credit hours for which the individual received an exemption for the semester;

(4) for each individual receiving benefits at the institution during the semester, the total cumulative number of credit hours for which the individual has received an exemption at the institution; and

(5) any other information required by the board.

SECTION 7. Section 61.073, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 61.073. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR TUITION AND FEE EXEMPTIONS. Funds shall be appropriated to the board [Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board] for allocation to each junior [and community] college in an amount equal to the total of all tuition and [laboratory] fees forgone [foregone] each semester as a result of the tuition and [laboratory] fee exemptions required by law in Sections 54.301, 54.331, 54.341, 54.343, 54.351, 54.352, 54.353, 54.3531, and 54.364 [54.201 through 54.209, Texas Education Code].

SECTION 8. Subdivision (2), Section 61.9751, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(2) "Nursing education program" means an undergraduate professional nursing program or a graduate professional nursing program as those terms are defined by Section 54.355 [54.221].

SECTION 9. Subsection (c), Section 76.07, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) A nonresident student who is simultaneously enrolled in the institution and another public institution of higher education under a program offered jointly by the two institutions under a partnership agreement and who pays the fees and charges required of Texas residents at one of the institutions as provided by Section 54.213 [54.064] because the student holds a competitive scholarship is entitled to pay the fees and charges required of Texas residents at each public institution of higher education in which the student is simultaneously enrolled under the program.

SECTION 10. Subsection (a), Section 131.005, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A Texas resident student enrolled in the institute is exempt from tuition fees under Section 54.364 [54.205 of this code].

SECTION 11. Subsection (i), Section 162.304, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(i) A child for whom a subsidy is provided under Subsection (b-1) for premiums for health benefits coverage and who does not receive any other subsidy under this section is not considered to be the subject of an adoption assistance agreement for any other purpose, including for determining eligibility for the exemption from payment of tuition and fees for higher education under Section 54.367 [54.2111], Education Code.

SECTION 12. Subsection (i), Section 431.090, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(i) From money appropriated for purposes of this section, the adjutant general shall authorize the comptroller to reimburse an institution of higher education in an amount equal to the amount of the exemption from tuition and mandatory fees the institution grants to a person under Section 54.345 [54.2155], Education Code.

SECTION 13. Subsection (b), Section 434.0072, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The commission shall establish a program to issue vouchers to be exchanged for an exemption from the payment of tuition and required fees at an institution of higher education as provided by Section 54.344 [54.215], Education Code, to students in grades 6 through 12 or at postsecondary educational institutions who sound "Taps" on a bugle, trumpet, or cornet during military honors funerals held in this state for deceased veterans. A voucher must be issued in the amount of $25 for each time a student sounds "Taps" as described by this subsection.

SECTION 14. Subsection (a), Section 824.602, Government Code, as amended by Chapters 674 (S.B. 132) and 1359 (S.B. 1691), Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(a) Subject to Section 825.506, the retirement system may not, under Section 824.601, withhold a monthly benefit payment if the retiree is employed in a Texas public educational institution:

(1) as a substitute only with pay not more than the daily rate of substitute pay established by the employer and, if the retiree is a disability retiree, the employment has not exceeded a total of 90 days in the school year;

(2) in a position, other than as a substitute, on no more than a one-half time basis for the month;

(3) in one or more positions on as much as a full-time basis, if the work occurs in not more than six months of a school year that begins after the retiree's effective date of retirement;

(4) in a position, other than as a substitute, on no more than a one-half time basis for no more than 90 days in the school year, if the retiree is a disability retiree;

(5) in a position as a classroom teacher on as much as a full-time basis, if the retiree has retired under Section 824.202(a) or (a-1), is certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, to teach the subjects assigned, is teaching in an acute shortage area as determined by the board of trustees of a school district as provided by Subsection (m), and has been separated from service with all public schools for at least 12 months;

(6) in a position as a principal, including as an assistant principal, on as much as a full-time basis, if the retiree has retired under Section 824.202(a) or (a-1) without reduction for retirement at an early age, is certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, to serve as a principal, and has been separated from service with all public schools for at least 12 months;

(7) as a bus driver for a school district on as much as a full-time basis, if the retiree has retired under Section 824.202(a) or (a-1), and the retiree's primary employment is as a bus driver; or

(8) as a faculty member, during the period beginning with the 2005 fall semester and ending on the last day of the 2015 spring semester, in an undergraduate professional nursing program or graduate professional nursing program, as defined by Section 54.355 [54.221], Education Code, and if the retiree has been separated from service with all public schools for at least 12 months.

SECTION 15. Subdivision (1-b), Subsection (a), Section 2306.562, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(1-b) "Graduate professional nursing program" and "undergraduate professional nursing program" have the meanings assigned by Section 54.355 [54.221], Education Code.

SECTION 16. The following provisions of the Education Code are repealed:

(1) Subsection (d), Section 54.0513;

(2) Subsection (e), Section 54.503;

(3) Subsection (d), Section 65.45; and

(4) Subsection (c), Section 160.07.

SECTION 17. (a) Section 54.208, Education Code, as amended by Chapters 1285 (H.B. 2013) and 1299 (H.B. 2347), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is repealed.

(b) Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is amended by adding Sections 54.353 and 54.3531 to read as follows:

Sec. 54.353. FIREFIGHTERS AND PEACE OFFICERS ENROLLED IN CERTAIN COURSES. (a) The governing board of an institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory fees a student who is employed as a firefighter by a political subdivision of this state and who enrolls in a course or courses offered as part of a fire science curriculum.

(b) The governing board of an institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory fees charged by the institution for a criminal justice or law enforcement course or courses an undergraduate student who:

(1) is employed as a peace officer by this state or by a political subdivision of this state;

(2) is enrolled in a criminal justice or law enforcement-related degree program at the institution;

(3) is making satisfactory academic progress toward the student's degree as determined by the institution; and

(4) applies for the exemption at least one week before the last date of the institution's regular registration period for the applicable semester or other term.

(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a student may not receive an exemption under that subsection for any course if the student has previously attempted a number of semester credit hours for courses taken at any institution of higher education while classified as a resident student for tuition purposes in excess of the maximum number of those hours specified by Section 61.0595(a) as eligible for funding under the formulas established under Section 61.059.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), the governing board of an institution of higher education may not provide exemptions under that subsection to students enrolled in a specific class in a number that exceeds 20 percent of the maximum student enrollment designated by the institution for that class.

(e) An exemption provided under this section does not apply to deposits that may be required in the nature of security for the return or proper care of property loaned for the use of students.

(f) The coordinating board shall adopt:

(1) rules governing the granting or denial of an exemption under this section, including rules relating to the determination of a student's eligibility for an exemption; and

(2) a uniform listing of degree programs covered by the exemption under this section.

(g) If the legislature does not specifically appropriate funds to an institution of higher education in an amount sufficient to pay the institution's costs in complying with this section for a semester, the governing board of the institution of higher education shall report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee the cost to the institution of complying with this section for that semester.

Sec. 54.3531. FIREFIGHTERS ENROLLED IN FIRE SCIENCE COURSES. (a) The governing board of an institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory fees any student enrolled in one or more courses offered as part of a fire science curriculum who:

(1) is employed as a firefighter by a political subdivision of this state; or

(2) is currently, and has been for at least one year, an active member of an organized volunteer fire department in this state, as defined by the fire fighters' pension commissioner, who holds:

(A) an Accredited Advanced level of certification, or an equivalent successor certification, under the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas volunteer certification program; or

(B) Phase V (Firefighter II) certification, or an equivalent successor certification, under the Texas Commission on Fire Protection's voluntary certification program under Section 419.071, Government Code.

(b) An exemption provided under this section does not apply to deposits that may be required in the nature of security for the return or proper care of property loaned for the use of students.

(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a student who for a semester or term at an institution of higher education receives an exemption under this section may continue to receive the exemption for a subsequent semester or term at any institution only if the student makes satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or certificate at that institution as determined by the institution for purposes of financial aid.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the exemption provided under this section does not apply to any amount of additional tuition the institution elects to charge a resident undergraduate student under Section 54.014(a) or (f).

(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the exemption provided under this section does not apply to any amount of tuition the institution charges a graduate student in excess of the amount of tuition charged to similarly situated graduate students because the student has a number of semester credit hours of doctoral work in excess of the applicable number provided by Section 61.059(l)(1) or (2).

(f) The coordinating board shall adopt:

(1) rules governing the granting or denial of an exemption under this section, including rules relating to the determination of a student's eligibility for an exemption; and

(2) a uniform listing of degree programs covered by the exemption under this section.

SECTION 18. The changes in law made by this Act apply beginning with tuition and other fees charged for the 2012-2013 academic year. Tuition and other fees charged for an academic period before that academic year are covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 19. This Act takes effect January 1, 2012.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 32 passed the Senate on May 5, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 32 passed the House on May 23, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor