| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
| |
|
|
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of |
|
|
Texas, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, That House Rule 13, |
|
|
Section 9(a), be suspended in part as provided by House Rule 13, |
|
|
Section 9(f), to enable the conference committee appointed to |
|
|
resolve the differences on Senate Bill 1158 (relating to higher |
|
|
education for veterans and their families) to consider and take |
|
|
action on the following matters: |
|
|
(1) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
|
the committee to add text on matters which are not included in |
|
|
either the house or senate version of the bill in SECTION 1 of the |
|
|
bill by amending Sections 54.341(d), (h), and (l), Education Code, |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(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 last class date of the semester or term to which the |
|
|
exemption applies, except that the governing board may encourage |
|
|
the submission of an application and evidence by 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 [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), or (k). The institution |
|
|
shall report the information not later than January 31 [December
|
|
|
31] of each year for the fall semester, June 30 [May 31] of each year |
|
|
for the spring semester, and September 30 of each year for the |
|
|
summer session. |
|
|
(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) as a graduate or undergraduate student, maintain a |
|
|
grade point average that satisfies the grade point average |
|
|
requirement for making [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 institution's policy regarding eligibility for [of the
|
|
|
institution's] financial aid; 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 [department, except that the institution may not require
|
|
|
the child to enroll in a minimum course load]. |
|
|
Explanation: These changes are necessary to clarify the |
|
|
reporting and eligibility requirements for certain tuition |
|
|
exemptions awarded to veterans and their families. |
|
|
(2) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
|
the committee to add text on a matter which is not included in |
|
|
either the house or senate version of the bill in SECTION 2 of the |
|
|
bill by adding Section 54.3411(e), Education Code, to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(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(k). 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(k), as determined by the Legislative Budget Board. |
|
|
The amount appropriated shall be distributed annually to each |
|
|
eligible institution of higher education. |
|
|
Explanation: This change is necessary to clarify the |
|
|
distribution of funds for certain tuition exemptions awarded to |
|
|
children of certain veterans. |
|
|
(3) House Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4), is suspended to permit |
|
|
the committee to add text on a matter which is not included in |
|
|
either the house or senate version of the bill in SECTION 3 of the |
|
|
bill by adding Section 434.0079(c), Government Code, to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(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. |
|
|
Explanation: This change is necessary to require rules to be |
|
|
adopted for the administration of certain tuition exemptions |
|
|
awarded to veterans and their families. |