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SENATE ENGROSSED
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HOUSE COMMITTEE
SUBSTITUTE
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SECTION 1. Section 54.341,
Education code, is amended by amending Subsections (d), (h), (i), (k), and
(n) and adding Subsection (o) to read as follows:
No
equivalent provision.
No
equivalent provision.
No
equivalent provision.
(d) The governing board of
each institution of higher education granting an exemption under this
section shall require each applicant claiming the exemption to submit to
the institution, in the form and manner prescribed by the Texas Veterans
Commission for purposes of this section under Section 434.0079(b),
Government Code, an application for the exemption and necessary
[satisfactory] evidence that the applicant qualifies for the
exemption not later than
one
year after the earlier of the date the institution:
(1)
provides written notice to the applicant of the applicant's eligibility for
the exemption; or
(2)
receives a written acknowledgement from the applicant evidencing the
applicant's awareness of the applicant's eligibility for the exemption.
(h) The governing board of
each institution of higher education shall electronically report to the
Texas Veterans Commission [Higher Education Coordinating Board]
the information required by Section 434.00791, Government Code, [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 Veterans
Commission [Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board] may adopt
rules to provide for the efficient and uniform application of this
section. In developing rules under this subsection, the commission
shall consult with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and
institutions of higher education.
(k) The Texas Veterans
Commission [Higher Education Coordinating Board] by rule shall
prescribe procedures to allow:
(1) 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; and
(2) following the death of a
person who becomes eligible for an exemption provided by Subsection (a),
the assignment of the exemption for the unused portion of the credit hours
to a child of the person, to be made by the person's spouse or by the
conservator, guardian, custodian, or other legally designated caretaker of
the child, if the child does not otherwise qualify for an exemption under
Subsection (b).
No
equivalent provision.
No
equivalent provision.
No
equivalent provision.
(n) The Texas Veterans
Commission [Higher Education Coordinating Board] by rule shall
prescribe procedures by which a child assigned an exemption under
Subsection (k) who suffered from a severe illness or other debilitating
condition that affected the child's ability to use the exemption before
reaching the age described by Subsection (m)
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.
(o) The Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Veterans Commission shall
coordinate to provide each respective agency with any information required
to ensure the proper administration of this section and the proper
execution of each agency's statutory responsibilities concerning this
section.
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SECTION 1. Section 54.341,
Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a-2), (b), (d), (h),
(i), (k), (k-1), (l), (m), and (n) and adding Subsections (a-4) and (o) to
read as follows:
(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 and
permanently disabled or meets the eligibility requirements for
individual unemployability [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 and
permanently disabled or meets the eligibility requirements for
individual unemployability [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.
(a-4) A person who before
the 2014-2015 academic year received an exemption under this section
continues to be eligible for the exemption provided by this section as this
section existed on January 1, 2013.
(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 and
permanently disabled or meet the eligibility requirements for
individual unemployability [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 and
permanently disabled or meet the eligibility requirements for
individual unemployability [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.
(d) The governing board of
each institution of higher education granting an exemption under this
section shall require each applicant claiming the exemption to submit to
the institution, in the form and manner prescribed by the Texas Veterans
Commission for purposes of this section under Section 434.0079(b),
Government Code, an application for the exemption and necessary
[satisfactory] evidence that the applicant qualifies for the
exemption not later than the official day
of record for the semester or term to which the exemption applies on which
the institution must determine the enrollment that is reported to the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board or on another day, not later than the end
of the semester, as determined by the governing board
[one
year after the earlier of the date the institution:
[(1)
provides written notice to the applicant of the applicant's eligibility for
the exemption; or
[(2)
receives a written acknowledgement from the applicant evidencing the
applicant's awareness of the applicant's eligibility for the exemption].
(h) The governing board of
each institution of higher education shall electronically report to the
Texas Veterans Commission [Higher Education Coordinating Board]
the information required by Section 434.00791, Government Code, [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 for the preceding fiscal year
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 Veterans
Commission [Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board] may adopt
rules to provide for the efficient and uniform application of this
section. In developing rules under this subsection, the commission
shall consult with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and
institutions of higher education.
(k) The Texas Veterans
Commission [Higher Education Coordinating Board] by rule shall
prescribe procedures to allow:
(1) 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; and
(2) following the death of a
person who becomes eligible for an exemption provided by Subsection (a),
the assignment of the exemption for the unused portion of the credit hours
to a child of the person, to be made by the person's spouse or by the
conservator, guardian, custodian, or other legally designated caretaker of
the child, if the child does not otherwise qualify for an exemption under
Subsection (b).
(k-1) The procedures under
Subsection (k) must provide:
(1) the manner in which a
person may waive the exemption;
(2) the manner in which a
child may be designated to receive the exemption;
(3) a procedure permitting
the designation of 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]
(4) a method of
documentation to enable institutions of higher education to determine the
eligibility of the designated child to receive the exemption; and
(5) a procedure
permitting a person who waived the exemption and designated a child to
receive the exemption to revoke that designation as to any unused portion
of the assigned credit hours.
(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; [and]
(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.
(m) For purposes of this
section, a person is the child of another person if [the person is 25
years of age or younger on the first day of the semester or other academic
term for which the exemption is claimed and]:
(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.
(n) The Texas Veterans
Commission [Higher Education Coordinating Board] by rule shall
prescribe procedures by which a child assigned an exemption under
Subsection (k) who suffered from a severe illness or other debilitating
condition that affected the child's ability to use the exemption before
reaching the age described by Subsection (l)(3)
[(m)] 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.
(o) The Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Veterans Commission shall
coordinate to provide each respective agency with any information required
to ensure the proper administration of this section and the proper
execution of each agency's statutory responsibilities concerning this
section.
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No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D,
Chapter 54, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 54.3411 to read as
follows:
Sec. 54.3411. PERMANENT FUND
SUPPORTING MILITARY AND VETERANS EXEMPTIONS. (a) In this section,
"trust company" means the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust
Company.
(b) The permanent fund
supporting military and veterans exemptions is a special fund in the
treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund is composed of:
(1) money transferred or
appropriated to the fund by the legislature;
(2) gifts and grants
contributed to the fund; and
(3) the returns received
from investment of money in the fund.
(c) The trust company shall
administer the fund. The trust company shall determine the amount
available for distribution from the fund, determined in accordance with a
distribution policy that is adopted by the comptroller and designed to
preserve the purchasing power of the fund's assets and to provide a stable
and predictable stream of annual distributions. Expenses of managing the
fund's assets shall be paid from the fund. Except as provided by this
section, money in the fund may not be used for any purpose. Sections 403.095
and 404.071, Government Code, do not apply to the fund.
(d) In managing the
assets of the fund, through procedures and subject to restrictions the
trust company considers appropriate, the trust company may acquire,
exchange, sell, supervise, manage, or retain any kind of investment that a
prudent investor, exercising reasonable care, skill, and caution, would
acquire or retain in light of the purposes, terms, distribution
requirements, and other circumstances of the fund then prevailing, taking
into consideration the investment of all the assets of the fund rather than
a single investment.
(e) The amount available
for distribution from the fund may be appropriated only to offset the cost
to institutions of higher education of the exemptions required by Section
54.341. The amount appropriated shall be distributed to eligible
institutions in proportion to each institution's respective share of the
aggregate cost to all institutions of the exemptions required by Section
54.341, as determined by the Legislative Budget Board. The amount
appropriated shall be distributed annually to each eligible institution of
higher education.
(f) The governing board
of an institution of higher education entitled to receive money under this
section may solicit and accept gifts and grants to the fund. A gift or
grant to the fund must be distributed and appropriated for the purposes of
the fund, subject to any limitation or requirement placed on the gift or
grant by the donor or granting entity.
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A,
Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 434.0079 to read
as follows:
Sec. 434.0079. DUTIES
REGARDING CERTAIN TUITION AND FEE EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY
MEMBERS. (a) The commission, through its veteran education program, shall
assist veterans and their family members in claiming and qualifying for
exemptions from the payment of tuition and fees at institutions of higher
education under Section 54.341, Education Code.
(b) The commission shall
establish the application and necessary evidence requirements for a person
to claim an exemption under Section 54.341, Education Code, at an
institution of higher education.
No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A,
Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 434.0079 to read
as follows:
Sec. 434.0079. DUTIES
REGARDING CERTAIN TUITION AND FEE EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY
MEMBERS. (a) The commission, through its veteran education program, shall
assist veterans and their family members in claiming and qualifying for
exemptions from the payment of tuition and fees at institutions of higher
education under Section 54.341, Education Code.
(b) The commission shall
establish the application and necessary evidence requirements for a person
to claim an exemption under Section 54.341, Education Code, at an
institution of higher education.
(c) The commission shall
adopt rules governing the coordination of federal and state benefits of a
person eligible to receive an exemption under Section 54.341(k), Education
Code, including rules governing:
(1) the total number of
credit hours assigned under that section that a person may apply to an
individual degree or certificate program, consistent with the standards of
the appropriate recognized regional accrediting agency; and
(2) the application of
the assigned exemption to credit hours for which the institution of higher
education does not receive state funding.
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SECTION 3. Section 61.0516,
Education Code, is transferred to Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government
Code, redesignated as Section 434.00791, Government Code, and amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 434.00791 [61.0516].
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO MONITOR TUITION EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY
MEMBERS [DEPENDENTS]. (a) In this section,
"institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by
Section 61.003, Education Code.
(b) The commission
[board] shall ensure [develop] a system to
electronically monitor the use of tuition and fee exemptions at
institutions of higher education under Section 54.341, Education
Code, is developed. The system must allow the commission [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, Education Code;
(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 commission [board].
(c) Not later than
January 1, 2014, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
provide to the commission the system, or
access to the system, developed by the coordinating board that meets the
requirements of this section. This subsection expires September 1, 2015.
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SECTION 4. Section 61.0516,
Education Code, is transferred to Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government
Code, redesignated as Section 434.00791, Government Code, and amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 434.00791 [61.0516].
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO MONITOR TUITION EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY
MEMBERS [DEPENDENTS]. (a) In this section,
"institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by
Section 61.003, Education Code.
(b) The commission
[board] shall ensure [develop] a system to
electronically monitor the use of tuition and fee exemptions at
institutions of higher education under Section 54.341, Education
Code, is developed. The system must allow the commission [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, Education Code;
(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 commission [board].
(c) Not later than
January 1, 2014, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, under an agreement with the commission,
shall provide access to the system developed by the coordinating board that
meets the requirements of this section. This subsection expires September
1, 2015.
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SECTION 4. Chapter 434,
Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapters F and G to read as
follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. VETERAN
EDUCATION EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION AWARD NETWORK
Sec. 434.251.
DEFINITIONS.
Sec. 434.252. VETERAN
EDUCATION EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION AWARD NETWORK. (a) The commission by
rule shall establish an award program under which institutions of higher
education may receive recognition from the commission for excellence in
providing education and related services to veterans.
(b) For purposes of
receiving an award under Subsection (a), the commission shall evaluate an
institution of higher education regarding, as applicable, the existence and
quality at the institution of:
(1) an advisory board of students who are veterans to advise the
institution's governing board on issues affecting the institution's
students who are veterans;
(2) a centralized place
for students who are veterans to meet or find assistance and information;
(3) an institution
employee who serves as a central point of contact for students who are
veterans;
(4) a United States
Department of Veterans Affairs work-study program;
(5) admissions and
enrollment policies specifically designed
for veterans;
(6) new student
orientation and courses specifically designed
for veterans;
(7) a student
organization for veterans;
(8) academic support
services specifically for students who
are veterans;
(9) mental health and
disability services;
(10) a housing policy
that applies specifically to veterans;
(11) faculty and staff
training on issues affecting students who are veterans;
(12) career services specifically designed for students who are
veterans; and
(13) any other criteria
considered necessary or appropriate by the commission.
Sec. 434.253. RULEMAKING
AUTHORITY.
SUBCHAPTER G. REGIONAL VETERANS EDUCATION COUNSELORS
PROGRAM
Sec. 434.301.
DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1)
"Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.
(2) "Higher education regions" means the higher education
regions in this state established by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board as specified under Section 434.304.
(3) "Institution of
higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003,
Education Code.
Sec. 434.302. REGIONAL VETERANS EDUCATION COUNSELORS. The commission shall employ regional veterans
education counselors. A regional veterans education counselor shall:
(1) visit the institutions of higher education located in each
higher education region served by the veterans education counselor;
(2) work with those institutions of higher education and any
existing veterans programs at those institutions to:
(A) create a hospitable
and supportive environment for veterans;
(B) enhance awareness of
and encourage participation in veterans educational programs and commission
programs providing other services to veterans, including employment and
claims assistance services;
(C) develop programs
providing ancillary assistance to veterans based on the unique needs of
veterans and their family members;
(D) ensure that veterans successfully complete
their education; and
(E) promote the
establishment of a student veterans group on each campus in the higher education region;
(3) work with local,
state, and national veterans groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars
and the American Legion, to promote educational opportunities and benefits
to the veteran population in the higher
education region;
(4) work with local
workforce development boards to:
(A) ensure that the regional veterans education counselors
are aware of available nontraditional educational opportunities, including
on-the-job training programs and apprenticeships; and
(B) advise employers in the higher education region of potential
opportunities to create on-the-job training programs for veterans;
(5) work with education
services officers at military installations to encourage active duty
members of the armed forces of the United States and veterans to use
federal and state educational benefits;
(6) create and manage
publicity campaigns in concert with the commission and institutions of
higher education in the higher education
region to promote the use of education benefits under the federal
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (38 U.S.C. Section
3301 et seq.), the tuition exemption program for veterans and their family
members under Section 54.341, Education Code, and any other education
benefit for veterans or their family members under federal or state law;
(7) support programs to
assist students who are combat veterans in readjusting and reintegrating
into a noncombat environment;
(8) maintain statistical
information regarding demographics of veterans assisted, application
success, program completion rates, dropout rates, and reasons for success
or failure, as appropriate; and
(9) perform other
activities, as assigned by the commission, to enhance the educational
opportunities of veterans and their family members in the higher education
region and throughout this state.
Sec. 434.303. PROGRAM
MANAGER. The commission shall employ a program manager to administer the
regional veterans education counselors program. The program manager shall:
(1) provide leadership,
training, support, and overall management of the regional veterans
education counselors;
(2) using data provided
by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, produce an annual report
on veterans' attendance at institutions of higher education; and
(3) perform any other
task required by the commission.
Sec. 434.304. ASSIGNMENT
OF REGIONAL VETERANS EDUCATION COUNSELORS. The commission shall assign
regional veterans education counselors throughout this state with at least
one counselor assigned responsibility for serving not more than two of the
following higher education regions:
(1) High Plains Region;
(2) Northwest Texas
Region;
(3) Metroplex Region;
(4) Upper East Texas
Region;
(5) Southeast Texas
Region;
(6) Gulf Coast Region;
(7) Central Texas Region;
(8) South Texas Region;
(9) West Texas Region;
and
(10) Upper Rio Grande
Region.
Sec. 434.305. SUPPORT
FROM INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. Each institution of higher
education shall cooperate with the commission to provide information, as
permitted by law, related to student veterans at the institution, provide
access to veteran resource centers or other student meeting areas, and
otherwise support the work of regional
veterans education counselors.
Sec. 434.306. RULEMAKING
AUTHORITY.
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SECTION 5. Chapter 434,
Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapters F and G to read as
follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. VETERAN
EDUCATION EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION AWARD NETWORK
Sec. 434.251.
DEFINITIONS.
Sec. 434.252. VETERAN
EDUCATION EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION AWARD NETWORK. (a) The commission by
rule shall establish an award program under which institutions of higher
education may receive recognition from the commission for excellence in
providing education and related services to veterans.
(b) For purposes of
receiving an award under Subsection (a), the commission shall evaluate an
institution of higher education regarding, as applicable, the existence and
quality at the institution of:
(1) a centralized place
for students who are veterans to meet or find assistance and information;
(2) an institution
employee who serves as a central point of contact for students who are
veterans;
(3) a United States
Department of Veterans Affairs work-study program;
(4) admissions and
enrollment policies for veterans;
(5) new student
orientation and courses for veterans;
(6) a student
organization for veterans;
(7) academic support
services for students who are veterans;
(8) mental health and
disability services;
(9) a housing policy that
applies to veterans;
(10) faculty and staff
training on issues affecting students who are veterans;
(11) career services for
students who are veterans; and
(12) any other criteria
considered necessary or appropriate by the commission.
Sec. 434.253. RULEMAKING
AUTHORITY.
SUBCHAPTER G. VETERANS
EDUCATION COUNSELING
Sec. 434.301.
DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1)
"Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission.
(2) "Institution of
higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003,
Education Code.
Sec. 434.302. VETERANS
EDUCATION COUNSELING; PROGRAM MANAGER. (a) The
commission shall designate a commission employee as a program manager whose
primary duty is to coordinate with institutions of higher education to
ensure that veterans programs at institutions of higher education:
(1) create a hospitable
and supportive environment for veterans;
(2) enhance awareness of
and encourage participation in veterans educational programs and commission
programs providing other services to veterans, including employment and
claims assistance services;
(3) develop programs
providing ancillary assistance to veterans based on the unique needs of
veterans and their family members;
(4) assist veterans to successfully complete their education; and
(5) promote the
establishment of a student veterans group on each campus.
(b) In addition to the primary duties under Subsection (a), the
program manager may, in cooperation with institutions of higher education:
(1) work with local,
state, and national veterans groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars
and the American Legion, to promote educational opportunities and benefits
to the veteran population;
(2) work with local
workforce development boards to:
(A) ensure that persons providing educational counseling to
veterans are aware of available nontraditional educational
opportunities, including on-the-job training programs and apprenticeships;
and
(B) advise employers of
potential opportunities to create on-the-job training programs for
veterans;
(3) work with education
services officers at military installations to encourage active duty
members of the armed forces of the United States and veterans to use
federal and state educational benefits;
(4) create and manage
publicity campaigns in concert with the commission and institutions of
higher education to promote the use of education benefits under the federal
Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (38 U.S.C. Section
3301 et seq.), the tuition exemption program for veterans and their family
members under Section 54.341, Education Code, and any other education
benefit for veterans or their family members under federal or state law;
(5) support programs to
assist students who are combat veterans in readjusting and reintegrating
into a noncombat environment;
(6) maintain statistical
information regarding demographics of veterans assisted, application
success, program completion rates, dropout rates, and reasons for success
or failure, as appropriate; and
(7) perform other
activities, as assigned by the commission, to enhance the educational
opportunities of veterans and their family members in the higher education
region and throughout this state.
No
equivalent provision.
No
equivalent provision.
Sec. 434.303. SUPPORT
FROM INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. Each institution of higher
education shall cooperate with the commission to provide information, as
permitted by law, related to student veterans at the institution, provide
access to veterans resource centers or other student meeting areas, and
otherwise support veterans education counseling.
Sec. 434.304. RULEMAKING
AUTHORITY.
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SECTION 5. Subdivision (4),
Subsection (b), Section 9.01, Chapter 1049 (Senate Bill No. 5), Acts of the
82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, which would repeal Subsection (h),
Section 54.203, Education Code, effective September 1, 2013, is repealed
and does not take effect, and Subsection (h), Section 54.341, Education
Code, which was redesignated from Subsection (h), Section 54.203, Education
Code, by Chapter 359 (Senate Bill No. 32), Acts of the 82nd Legislature,
Regular Session, 2011, remains in effect as amended by this Act.
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SECTION 6. Same as engrossed
version.
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SECTION 6. The changes in
law made by this Act to Section 54.341,
Education Code, apply beginning with tuition and fees for the 2014
fall semester. Tuition and fees for a term or semester before the 2014
fall semester 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.
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SECTION 7. The changes in
law made by this Act to Sections 54.341(d),
(h), (i), (k), and (n), Education Code, apply beginning with tuition
and fees for the 2014 fall semester. Tuition and fees for a term or
semester before the 2014 fall semester 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.
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SECTION 7. As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas Veterans
Commission shall employ the regional veterans education counselors and a
program manager as required by Subchapter G, Chapter 434, Government Code,
as added by this Act.
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No
equivalent provision.
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No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 8. In adopting rules
under this Act, including rules implementing authority transferred by this
Act from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Veterans
Commission shall engage institutions of higher education in a negotiated
rulemaking process as described by Chapter 2008, Government Code.
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SECTION 8. This Act takes
effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day
of the legislative session.
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SECTION 9. Same as engrossed
version.
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