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SENATE RESOLUTION
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BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, That Senate Rule 12.03 be |
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suspended in part as provided by Senate Rule 12.08 to enable the |
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conference committee appointed to resolve the differences on |
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Senate Bill 1158 (relating to higher education for veterans and |
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their families) to consider and take action on the following |
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matters: |
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(1) Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the |
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committee to add text on matters which are not included in either |
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the house or senate version of the bill in SECTION 1 of the bill |
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by amending Sections 54.341(d), (h), and (l), Education Code, to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) The governing board of each institution of higher |
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education granting an exemption under this section shall require |
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each applicant claiming the exemption to submit to the |
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institution, in the form and manner prescribed by the Texas |
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Veterans Commission for purposes of this section under Section |
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434.0079(b), Government Code, an application for the exemption |
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and necessary [satisfactory] evidence that the applicant |
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qualifies for the exemption not later than the last class date of |
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the semester or term to which the exemption applies, except that |
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the governing board may encourage the submission of an |
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application and evidence by the official day of record for the |
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semester or term to which the exemption applies on which the |
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institution must determine the enrollment that is reported to the |
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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board [one year after the
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earlier of the date the institution:
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[(1)
provides written notice to the applicant of the
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applicant's eligibility for the exemption; or
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[(2)
receives a written acknowledgement from the
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applicant evidencing the applicant's awareness of the
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applicant's eligibility for the exemption]. |
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(h) The governing board of each institution of higher |
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education shall electronically report to the Texas Veterans |
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Commission [Higher Education Coordinating Board] the information |
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required by Section 434.00791, Government Code, [61.0516] |
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relating to each individual receiving an exemption from fees and |
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charges under Subsection (a), (a-2), [or] (b), or (k). The |
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institution shall report the information not later than January |
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31 [December 31] of each year for the fall semester, June 30 [May
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31] of each year for the spring semester, and September 30 of each |
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year for the summer session. |
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(l) To be eligible to receive an exemption under |
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Subsection (k), the child must: |
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(1) be a student who is classified as a resident |
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under Subchapter B when the child enrolls in an institution of |
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higher education; [and] |
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(2) as a graduate or undergraduate student, |
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maintain a grade point average that satisfies the grade point |
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average requirement for making [make] satisfactory academic |
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progress in a degree, certificate, or continuing education |
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program as determined by the institution at which the child is |
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enrolled in accordance with the institution's policy regarding |
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eligibility for [of the institution's] financial aid; and |
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(3) be 25 years of age or younger on the first day of |
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the semester or other academic term for which the exemption is |
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claimed [department, except that the institution may not require
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the child to enroll in a minimum course load]. |
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Explanation: These changes are necessary to clarify the |
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reporting and eligibility requirements for certain tuition |
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exemptions awarded to veterans and their families. |
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(2) Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the |
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committee to add text on a matter which is not included in either |
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the house or senate version of the bill in SECTION 2 of the bill |
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by adding Section 54.3411(e), Education Code, to read as follows: |
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(e) The amount available for distribution from the fund |
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may be appropriated only to offset the cost to institutions of |
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higher education of the exemptions required by Section |
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54.341(k). The amount appropriated shall be distributed to |
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eligible institutions in proportion to each institution's |
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respective share of the aggregate cost to all institutions of the |
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exemptions required by Section 54.341(k), as determined by the |
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Legislative Budget Board. The amount appropriated shall be |
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distributed annually to each eligible institution of higher |
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education. |
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Explanation: This change is necessary to clarify the |
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distribution of funds for certain tuition exemptions awarded to |
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children of veterans. |
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(3) Senate Rule 12.03(4) is suspended to permit the |
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committee to add text on a matter which is not included in either |
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the house or senate version of the bill in SECTION 3 of the bill |
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by adding Section 434.0079(c), Government Code, to read as |
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follows: |
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(c) The commission shall adopt rules governing the |
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coordination of federal and state benefits of a person eligible |
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to receive an exemption under Section 54.341(k), Education Code, |
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including rules governing: |
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(1) the total number of credit hours assigned under |
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that section that a person may apply to an individual degree or |
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certificate program, consistent with the standards of the |
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appropriate recognized regional accrediting agency; and |
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(2) the application of the assigned exemption to |
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credit hours for which the institution of higher education does |
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not receive state funding. |
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Explanation: This change is necessary to require rules to |
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be adopted for the administration of certain tuition exemptions |
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awarded to veterans and their families. |
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_______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 26, 2013, by the |
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following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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_______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |